Twelve Democratic-led States File Lawsuit to Expand Access to Abortion Pill Mifepristone in Face of Potential Restrictions

Twelve Democratic-led states have filed a lawsuit in federal court in Yakima, Washington to challenge certain federal restrictions imposed on the distribution of the abortion pill mifepristone. The lawsuit, led by Washington state and Oregon, aims to expand access to mifepristone by allowing it to be prescribed and dispensed by any doctor or pharmacy, like most drugs.

The Biden administration is preparing for a worst-case scenario if a conservative federal judge rules in favor of a lawsuit seeking to restrict access to one of the two drugs typically used to induce a medicated abortion. The lawsuit was filed by an anti-abortion group in Texas that claims the Food and Drug Administration wrongly approved mifepristone for use more than 23 years ago.

Mifepristone and misoprostol are two drugs that can be taken by women at home and are used for just over half of U.S. abortions. The lawsuit filed by the twelve Democratic-led states is seeking to ensure that these drugs remain available to women who need them.

In response to the lawsuit, people marched through downtown Amarillo, Texas to protest the potential ban of the abortion drug mifepristone. The lawsuit filed by the anti-abortion activists is still proceeding in Texas. It is unclear what the outcome of the lawsuit will be, but the Biden administration is preparing for a worst-case scenario.