The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals hears arguments on whether to end nationwide telehealth access to the abortion pill mifepristone
The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on Wednesday regarding a lawsuit brought by Louisiana to end federal regulations allowing the abortion pill mifepristone to be sent to patients via mail without an in-person doctor's visit. The administration announced that the Food and Drug Administration is currently reviewing the drug's safety profile and has requested to put the case on hold. Louisiana argues that the current regulations undermine state-level abortion prohibitions and that the rules are less safe for patients than in-person consultations. The administration's regulatory approach has faced criticism from anti-abortion groups, who claim the FDA has not yet sought to end telehealth abortion on its own. Judges on the panel focused on whether the court has the standing to intervene in the FDA's regulatory process. The court's ruling is expected to eventually reach the Supreme Court for a final decision. If the lawsuit succeeds, telehealth abortion access could be restricted across the country, potentially making it harder for doctors to prescribe the medication for both abortions and miscarriages.
Sources
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A Louisiana case could upend telehealth abortion. What exactly is it?
NPR
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Appeals court considers future of nationwide access to medication abortion
CNN
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Opinion | I'm an ER doctor. I use mifepristone to save lives — not end them.
MS NOW