The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the abortion pill mifepristone on Thursday, ensuring the drug remains widely available. The high court found that the group of anti-abortion doctors questioning the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decisions lacked legal standing to sue.
This unanimous 9-0 decision did not address whether the FDA acted lawfully in lifting restrictions on the pill, including making it available by mail. Consequently, these issues may reappear in future cases.
Another FDA decision allows women to obtain the pill within 10 weeks of gestation, rather than the previous seven-week limit, according to NBC News.
The ruling arrives two years after the conservative-leaning court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which led to new abortion restrictions in many conservative states. Despite the court’s shift, this decision keeps mifepristone, a common abortion drug, accessible.
In their lawsuit, the anti-abortion doctors argued that the FDA overstepped its authority by relaxing regulations around mifepristone. However, the Supreme Court concluded that these doctors did not have a direct stake in the matter, thus lacking the standing to sue.
The continued availability of mifepristone is seen as a significant decision, particularly in light of recent moves by conservative states to impose stricter abortion laws following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The decision underscores the complexity of navigating abortion rights in the current political climate.
While the ruling does not settle the broader debate over the FDA’s regulatory power, it ensures that mifepristone remains accessible for now. As legal battles over abortion continue to play out across the country, this decision marks an important moment in the ongoing struggle over reproductive rights.
