Planned Parenthood South Atlantic Responds to Ruling About Mifepristone
Contact: CONTACT: Molly Rivera, [email protected] or 919-438-1109
For Immediate Release: April 7, 2023
Medication abortion still safe, legal, and available at Planned Parenthood South Atlantic health centers in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina
AMARILLO, Tex. — Today a federal judge in Texas blocked the FDA's original approval of mifepristone, one of two medications most commonly used in medication abortion. The decision in the case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine et al v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration et al, is the first time in history that a federal court has ordered the FDA to revoke approval of a drug over objections from the FDA and the manufacturer. The decision does not take effect for seven days in order to allow the FDA to appeal it.
Mifepristone was first approved by the FDA more than 20 years ago and has since been used by more than five million people to safely end their pregnancies. It is used in more than half of abortions nationwide and has a safety record of over 99%.
Medication abortion remains legal and available in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic health centers across this region will continue to provide medication abortion to patients while they await further guidance from the FDA.
Jenny Black, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, responded to the decision with the following statement:
“We are reviewing the decision and awaiting further guidance from the FDA. Medication abortion is still safe, legal, and available in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
This case is an attack on abortion that is strictly politically motivated, against scientific evidence, and funded by extreme anti-abortion actors to further their agenda to ban abortion, birth control, and other sexual and reproductive health care nationwide. Everyone should have the ability to make decisions about their own reproductive lives and futures, including choosing the method of abortion that works best for their circumstances.”
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