Federal Appeals Court Blocks Mailing of Abortion Pill Mifepristone, Affecting Access Nationwide
A federal appeals court has issued a ruling that restricts the distribution of mifepristone, a common abortion pill, by blocking its mailing across the United States. The decision, made by a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, mandates that mifepristone can only be dispensed in person at clinics, overturning previous regulations set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This ruling follows the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, allowing states to enforce abortion bans. The court's decision is based on the argument that mailing the drug undermines state laws banning abortion, as highlighted by Judge Kyle Duncan, appointed by President Trump. Mifepristone, approved in 2000, is used in combination with misoprostol for early pregnancy terminations and is involved in the majority of abortions in the U.S. The ruling is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.