Planned Parenthood in California Responds to District Court Decision in Texas Mifepristone Case, Medication Abortion Remains Legal and Accessible in California
April 7, 2023
District Court in Texas Blocks Approval of Mifepristone, Threatening Access to a Safe Medicine Used By Over 5 Million People for Abortion and Miscarriage Care, but Decision Does Not Take Effect for Seven Days Pending Government Appeal
Approval of Mifepristone is STILL Protected as of Now
SACRAMENTO — Today, in an unprecedented and deeply harmful move, a federal judge in Texas declared in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine et al v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration et al the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of mifepristone unlawful, threatening the 22-year approval of one of two medications used in the most common medication abortion regimen in the United States. However, the judge also stayed the decision to give the federal government seven days to appeal, which means that for now, approval of mifepristone remains protected.
Statement from Jodi Hicks, President/CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California:
“Planned Parenthood in California condemns in the strongest way possible the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA ruling which suspends the FDA approval of mifepristone, a long approved and safe abortion medication. This ruling is in stark contrast to what the vast majority of the public has made abundantly clear - they do not want access to abortion restricted or banned.
“Attacks on reproductive health care, including medication abortion, are all about power and control and this is no different. This ruling will create additional barriers to care, and people will be hurt by this. But let’s be clear, despite this ruling and the efforts of extremists, abortion remains legal and accessible in California. Planned Parenthood in California will continue to support Californians and out-of-state patients seeking care they need here.
“Planned Parenthood affiliates continue to assess what this ruling means and are awaiting to see what additional action happens in the coming days before making any health care provision decisions.”
###