The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked lower courts from restricting an abortion pill

Washington, April 4 (ZXS) -- The U.S. Supreme Court said on the 14th local time that it would temporarily prevent lower courts from imposing restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Alito said on the same day that the Supreme Court will temporarily block the lower court's ruling on restrictions on mifepristone, and the Supreme Court will make a final ruling on the case on April 4.

On the 7th of this month, conservative judge Matthew Kaxmarik of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Texas requested a re-approval on the grounds that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not adequately assess the safety risks of mifepristone, and ordered mifepristone to withdraw from the market.

On the 12th, the federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, Louisiana, ruled that the FDA approval remains valid, allowing mifepristone to continue to be sold on the market, but requiring that access and use restrictions be restored.

The U.S. Department of Justice and mifepristone manufacturer Danco Laboratories appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court on the 14th, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to dismiss the lower court ruling.

U.S. Deputy Attorney General Elizabeth Prelogar said mifepristone is an FDA-approved drug based on scientific research, and that challenging it by lower courts would create "regulatory confusion."

According to CNBC, mifepristone was approved by the FDA in 2000 as a common form of medical abortion when used in combination with another drug, misoprostol. When the FDA first approved mifepristone, it specified that it should be used within the first 7 weeks of pregnancy and required 3 face-to-face visits. But the FDA relaxed those restrictions in 2016. Once restrictions are restored, it means that access to abortion will be greatly affected.

In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and women's right to abortion is no longer constitutionally protected. Since then, many states in the United States have introduced abortion bans or severe restrictions on abortion. (End)