A federal appeals court has temporarily allowed Mifepristone, a widely-used abortion drug, to stay on the market with some restrictions.
Last Friday, a district judge in Texas ruled that the FDA had improperly approved the drug in 2000, potentially opening the door for a ban.
- The appellate ruling will re-introduce sales restrictions that were in place between 2000 and 2016.
- Under
these rules, Mifepristone can only be used in the first seven weeks of
pregnancy and following at least three in-person doctor visits. In
addition, the drug cannot be sent to patients by mail.
- The appellate court agreed with the notion that the FDA had failed to look at new data when it loosened these restrictions in 2016.
- The court could issue more restrictions following oral arguments.
- The Justice Department may ask the Supreme Court to take the case.
- Mifepristone is used in more than half of abortions in the U.S.
