Update 4/21/23: The Supreme Court has voted to temporarily allow access to mifepristone. This vote came days after the Department of Justice requested to block the ruling from Texas Judge Kacsmaryk, which blocked mifepristone nationwide. The next step for this case is May 17, when a Circut Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments.
Update 4/14/23: A federal appeals court has chosen not to maintain the suspension of the abortion pill, specifically mifepristone, as imposed by a lower court. However, the court has not overturned all restrictions.
- Mifepristone will not be permitted to be sent through mail to patients who have a virtual consultation, rather than visiting a healthcare facility in person to obtain the prescription.
- Additionally, the drug can only be prescribed up to the first seven weeks of pregnancy, a reduction from the previous limit of 10 weeks.
Please continue praying for this decision and that more limits are placed on the abortion pill, which accounts for more than half of reported abortions in the US.
As the nation’s largest provider of ultrasounds to women in unplanned pregnancies seeking abortion, PreBorn! congratulates the decision of Texas Judge Kacsmaryk for championing justice and protection for the health of women and babies across America.
The decision places a hold on the FDA’s approval of mifepristone. It’s a landmark protection from the trauma and risk of chemical abortion. This decision goes into effect on April 14, 2023.
PreBorn! estimates over 500,000 women will be protected annually, as well as that number of babies’ lives saved. Although we wish this ended abortion in America, we suspect the current administration will appeal in order to reverse the decision.
Abortion pills have caused harm and even death in women. These pills are even used in human trafficking to end the life of unwanted babies.
How This All Started
Ever since the Supreme Court’s monumental decision in overturning Roe v. Wade in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, abortionists have not relented in their quest to kill the most vulnerable among us. One way they have evaded legal obstacles is by making abortion pills readily available.
In November 2022 the Alliance of Hippocratic Medicine, a coalition of Hippocratic organizations, sued the FDA over its regulation policy of mifepristone. The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine is a coalition of five medical organizations: Catholic Medical Associates, Coptic Medical Association of North America, American College of Pediatricians, AAPLOG, and Christian Medical and Dental Associations.
What is Mifepristone and How Does it Work?
Mifepristone (also known as RU-486) is the brand name of the generic version of Mifeprex, an abortion pill approved by the FDA. The abortion pill comes in two parts and is used to abort a child in the womb.
Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone, causing the uterus lining to break down and the baby to die. If the woman changes her mind, she can seek help to counteract the effects of the pill and save her baby’s life (typically through progesterone).
Next, the woman must take misoprostol within 24-48 hours, which triggers the uterus to contract and expel the baby.
This process can be a long and strenuous journey and ultimately results in the termination of the pregnancy. After the baby is expelled, it is the mother’s responsibility to dispose of the remains. If the abortion pill fails, surgical intervention may be necessary.
Mifepristone is meant to be taken in tandem with misoprostol within 10 weeks of pregnancy. The FDA claims the pharmaceutical to be safe and effective and has only increased in popularity since the fall of Roe v. Wade.
Some Dangers of Mifepristone
Mifepristone can have some side effects that can be as mundane as headaches and cramping to as serious as major vaginal bleeding. The potentially deadly side effects come from the sister pharmaceutical known as Misoprostol. This drug is taken with Mifepristone to induce the abortion. Side effects of Misoprostol can be as mundane as a lack or loss of strength and as serious as vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
Conclusion
With the passing of this judgement, we can expect further legal action to be taken by abortionists to protect their profits. Let us pray that this ruling stands and is not overturned.
At PreBorn!, it’s our mission to glorify Jesus Christ by leading and equipping Pregnancy Clinics to save more babies and souls. We do this by providing vital resources to pregnancy clinics in the form of ultrasounds and ultrasounds machines so they can help women in need choose life for their babies.