US Supreme Court issues temporary stay on rulings blocking access to abortion drug mifepristone
The United States Supreme Court preserved access to a widely used abortion medication by freezing lower-court judgements restricting its use while appeals are heard on April 21, 2023, as a result of which, the US Food and Drug Administration's approval of the medicine mifepristone, as well as subsequent moves that made it more widely available, will remain in effect while appeals are heard, perhaps for months.
The latest Supreme Court decision is considered a significant triumph for the Biden administration and abortion rights allies, who suffered a crushing defeat at the Supreme Court last year when the conservative majority overturned the Roe v. Wade precedent, which protected abortion rights across the country for over five decades.
Welcoming the decision, President Joe Biden stated that the stay would allow mifepristone to remain available and approved for safe and effective use while his administration continues this fight in the courts.
“I continue to stand by FDA’s evidence-based approval of mifepristone, and my Administration will continue to defend FDA’s independent, expert authority to review, approve, and regulate a wide range of prescription drugs,” the presidential statement read.
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Pointing out that the stakes could not be higher for women across America, President Biden said, “I will continue to fight politically-driven attacks on women’s health.”
He urged the American people to use their voting power to elect a Congress that will pass a law restoring the protections of Roe v Wade.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamla Harris stated that the Supreme Court’s announcement preserves access to mifepristone, a safe and effective medicine, approved by the FDA over two decades ago.
Welcoming the ruling, the Vice President said, “Our Administration will not waver in our commitment to preserving access to essential medication and defending the FDA’s ability to approve safe and effective drugs.”
“Americans need to look no further than their medicine cabinet to see how many FDA-approved medications are at risk if lower court decisions disregarding the FDA’s scientific judgment are allowed to stand,” the statement added.
Stressing that she and President Biden will continue to fight to protect a woman’s freedom, the Vice President said that no one should stand between a woman and her doctor.
