Federal Judge Suspends FDA Approval Of Abortion Pill
A federal judge in Texas has ruled to suspend the FDA’s approval of the drug Mifepristone, or the “abortion pill.”
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk wrote in a 67-page opinion that the FDA’s approval process regarding mifepristone violated federal law. Kacsmaryk stated that the FDA did not conduct proper testing before they approved the drug.
“Simply put, FDA built on its already-suspect 2000 Approval by removing even more restrictions related to chemical abortion drugs that were present during the final phase of the investigation. And it did so by relying on studies that included the very conditions FDA refused to adopt.”
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk
A medication abortion, or “chemical abortion,” is a two-pill regime that includes both mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone is taken to stop the fetus from growing, and misoprostol causes bleeding to empty the uterus. This process is conducted for pregnancies that are less than ten weeks old. Chemical abortions currently account for more than half of all abortions in the United States.
While the Texas judge’s ruling is a major victory for pro-life advocates, the ruling was countered by a federal judge from Washington State. Federal Judge Thomas Rice placed a preliminary injunction that blocks the FDA from taking “any action to remove mifepristone from the market or otherwise cause the drug to become less available.” This injunction means that the FDA must continue to allow mifepristone in 17 liberally-led states.
Despite this, pro-life groups across the country are celebrating the offensive measures being taken recently to restrict abortions and protect human life. Lila Rose, Founder and President of Live Action, celebrated the judge’s decision and criticized the FDA’s illegal approval of mifepristone.
“The abortion pill destroys a growing human being. The drug kills the preborn child by starving him or her of the vital nutrients needed to grow. This decision restricting the abortion pill will save children from the violence of chemical abortion and will allow them to enjoy their constitutional right to be born and live. The FDA’s lack of oversight and illegal approval of this drug in 2000 has not only led to the deaths of an estimated 5.6 million children but has been associated with the deaths of at least 28 women and has injured many more.“
Lila Rose, founder and president of Live Action
Because the legal status of mifepristone is questionable, it is likely that the Supreme Court will weigh in on the future of mifepristone in due time. The White House has filed its notice of appeal of the Texas judge’s ruling. The President commented that “The lawsuit, and this ruling, is another unprecedented step in taking away basic freedoms from women and putting their health at risk.”
