By Blessing Nweke
A federal appeals court in the United States has issued a ruling that significantly limits access to the abortion pill mifepristone by mail, marking a major development in the ongoing legal battle over reproductive rights. The decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily reinstates a requirement that patients obtain the medication in person, reversing pandemic-era changes that allowed prescriptions via telemedicine.
The order stems from a lawsuit filed by the state of Louisiana and pauses a 2023 policy from the Food and Drug Administration that permitted doctors to prescribe and mail the drug without an in-person consultation. The court argued that the earlier rule undermined Louisiana’s abortion restrictions, stating that it conflicted with the state’s legal stance on fetal personhood.
Mifepristone, part of a two-drug regimen used in most US abortions, had become widely accessible through mail following regulatory changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The FDA later made those changes permanent, citing safety and effectiveness. Medical groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, maintain that the medication is safe and effective in about 95% of cases.
Reactions to the ruling were sharply divided. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill praised the decision, calling it a victory for unborn children. Meanwhile, Julia Kaye of the American Civil Liberties Union criticized the move as contrary to science and established law.
In contrast, Letitia James reaffirmed that abortion access remains protected in New York, regardless of the ruling.
The decision comes despite a 2024 ruling by the US Supreme Court rejecting a similar effort to restrict mifepristone, though it left room for future legal challenges. The current order will remain in place while litigation continues.
Original article
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