The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily suspended the hold on the approval of mifepristone, the most commonly used abortion pill in the US.
The event occurred after conservative Texan Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk attempted to prevent the use of the medication to terminate unwanted pregnancies. The suspension is set to expire next Wednesday at midnight, allowing for the continued sale and use of the birth control medication.
Context
On April 8, a 67-page opinion was written by a Texan judge to suspend the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone. Even though this medication has been shown to have minimal side effects and risks for women, Judge Kackmaryk alleges that the pill causes inflammation.
According to the magistrate, if the FDA approves its use, it will violate federal laws. Moreover, he claims that the time spent studying the pill’s effect on the human body was insufficient for the FDA to understand the medication’s potential side effects.
This contentious stand has since been met with stunned disbelief. Several women showed concern for his position and compared it to an assault on their right to freedom and autonomy. The decision quickly prompted a response from the government.
A Quick Response from the Government
After the vice president, Kamala Harris, promised to block this restriction on live television, the Biden government made an urgent appeal to the US Supreme Court this Thursday. Later, the Federal Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit decided to temporarily block the stance taken by Kacsmaryk. As a result, women will be able to purchase the pill in every state of the country.
States Take Preventive Measures as Women’s Rights Are Threatened
There is a growing and persistent fear in many states. New York, Massachusetts, California, and Washington are currently accumulating abortion pills as uncertainty looms over the drug's FDA approval status.
According Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said: "We are going to make sure we have enough mifepristone to cover women in the state for as long as they need." She claimed that as the ban might go nationwide, many states have prepared a plan to purchase thousands of mifepristone doses to cover their needs for at least one year.
The state of New York is set to purchase 150,000 mifepristone doses, while California has already ordered 250,000 doses. Although these decisions might seem precautionary, they indicate apprehension and a sad future for the country.
Edited by Adedamola Aregbesola
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