Abortion Drug Court Order Puts Women's Health at Risk: White House

The White House said Monday the Texas court order that would halt approval of the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S. will put womens' health at risk, so the Justice Department is appealing the ruling.

The request to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was filed just days after conflicting court rulings over the legality of the abortion medication mifepristone put in doubt access to the drug that has been widely available for more than 20 years.

"This court decision threatens access to this medication, which is used not only for abortion, but also for other critical purposes, like helping women manage miscarriages. If the decision stands, it will put women's health at risk and undermine the FDA's ability to ensure patients have access to safe and effective medications when they need them the most," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at the White House briefing.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointment of Donald Trump, issued his decision Friday but ruled it would not take effect for seven days.

His decision came at nearly the same time a separate federal judge in Washington directed U.S. authorities not to make any changes that would restrict access to the drug in at least 17 states where Democrats had sued.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of mifepristone in 2000.

The Biden administration asked the New Orleans-based appellate court to extend a pause on the Texas order.

The whiplash of the conflicting decisions is likely to put the issue on an accelerated path to the Supreme Court.

--------

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Subscribe to Bloomberg Originals

Bloomberg Quicktake brings you global social video spanning business, technology, politics and culture. Make sense of the stories changing your business and your world.

Connect with us on…

Breaking News on YouTube