Federal Appeals Court Restricts Telemedicine Access to Mifepristone, Misoprostol Remains Available
A recent ruling by a federal appeals court has reinstated in-person prescribing requirements for mifepristone, a drug commonly used in medication abortions in the United States. This decision reverses the previous FDA policy under President Joe Biden, which allowed the drug to be prescribed via telemedicine and mailed to patients. The ruling affects the entire country, although the manufacturers of mifepristone have appealed to the Supreme Court to revert to the previous telemedicine-friendly rules. In the meantime, misoprostol, the second drug in the typical two-drug abortion regimen, remains available and can be used alone for medication abortions. Misoprostol is also used for other medical purposes, such as treating gastric ulcers and managing miscarriages. While the misoprostol-only protocol is effective, it tends to cause more side effects compared to the two-drug regimen. 
