California Reproductive Advocates Warily Assess Federal Court's Partial Stay in Mifepristone Case, Denounce New Limits to Access to Mifepristone
The California Future of Abortion Council, the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, and the California Abortion Alliance have issued a statement in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit's decision that ignores the rule of law and over two decades of research and evidence-based clinical practice. By putting back in place outdated and medically unnecessary requirements, the Fifth Circuit puts politics before patients and evidence-based medicine. The court's order keeps the FDA's original approval but reverts to an older medication label that approves use up to 49 days (instead of the current label, which is up to 70 days) and imposes other restrictions that could prohibit the mailing of the medication. Today, the Department of Justice asked the Supreme Court to take emergency action to stop lower courts from sharply restricting access.
In response to the ruling, the organizations issued the following statement:
"The California Future of Abortion Council, the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, and California Abortion Alliance are committed to protecting the rights and health of every person in California and those seeking abortion care in our state. Despite Fifth Circuit’s ruling, abortion care, including medication abortion, will remain legal and accessible in California. We will work closely with our legislative partners to develop and implement policies that safeguard access to abortion care. The limitations imposed by a three-judge panel in the Fifth Circuit on access to mifepristone disregard decades of evidence proving the safety and efficacy of mifepristone, and are part of a larger attempt by the anti-abortion movement to restrict reproductive care nationwide, causing undue harm to both patients and providers. We call on the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and halt this outrageous attack on science, the FDA’s jurisdiction, and the fundamental ability of patients across the country to get the essential health care they want and need.”
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