Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts responds to SCOTUS decision to hear mifepristone case

Mifepristone remains FDA approved and available for now 

BOSTON - Today, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) agreed to hear the appeal from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Danco of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine et al v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration et al. The Fifth Circuit’s decision would have reimposed several restrictions on mifepristone, contradicting the FDA’s guidance, but because of a stay issued by the Supreme Court earlier this year and the court’s decision to take up this case in its current term, mifepristone’s approval remains unchanged for now. Mifepristone remains FDA approved and available. 

A safe, effective medication, mifepristone has been FDA-approved for more than 23 years and is one of two medicines most commonly used in medication abortion and miscarriage care in the United States. Since the FDA approved mifepristone in 2000, it has been used by more than five million people to safely and effectively end a pregnancy. Currently, more than half of abortions nationwide – and nearly half of abortions in Massachusetts – are medication abortions.  

Statement from Dominique Lee, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts (PPLM):  

"Mifepristone is safe, effective, and an integral part of reproductive health care, used in the most effective medication regimen for abortion and miscarriage care. While mifepristone’s approval remains unchanged while the Supreme Court hears this case, this case continues to pose a threat to abortion access nationwide. Massachusetts has taken important steps to safeguard access to medication abortion that make it possible for us to continue providing the most effective, evidence-based care to our patients, but this looming Supreme Court decision is a reminder that we should not wait to take action locally to further expand access to abortion and other sexual and reproductive health care and education.” 

Lee recently testified in support of the Abortion Access Act, a bill that would eliminate parental involvement laws for teens under 16 seeking abortion, prevent dangerous targeted regulations on providers, and take steps to increase transparency and education around reproductive health care. Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts is also urging Massachusetts lawmakers to pass the Location Shield Act, a bill that would strengthen protections for abortion providers and patients by prohibiting the sale of location data in Massachusetts, and the Healthy Youth Act which would improve the quality of sex education in public schools. Read more about PPLM and the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts’ legislative agenda here. 

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About Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts: 

Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts (PPLM) is the state’s leading provider of sexual and reproductive health services and has been a leader in promoting sexual health for more than 90 years. We believe that all people deserve the information and expert services to make informed, personal decisions that affect their health, their lives, and their futures. The mission of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts is to ensure every person in the state has access to sexual and reproductive health care and education no matter who they are, where they live, or who they love. Our work is informed by research, powered by advocacy, and conducted with compassion and respect.