The ruling by a federal judge in Texas invalidating the Food and Drug Administration's approval 23 years ago of the abortion pill mifepristone has the potential to be one of the most consequential abortion cases since the overturning of Roe v Wade.
Two federal judges reached contradictory conclusions. With two opposing rulings, the case will go quickly to the U.S. Supreme Court.
One ordered the FDA to continue the status quo and retain safe access to abortion medication. At the same time, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk stated the FDA violated federal law over the last 23 years. He moved to effectively ban mifepristone's availability nationwide, including invoking the "anti-vice" law created in 1873.
Mifepristone has been used for over 20 years by over five million people. Medical professionals have well-established the medication's safety, and the FDA has followed its mission, federal rules, and regulations.
Mifepristone is safer than Tylenol, Viagra, and Penicillin.
Commonly prescribed drugs like penicillin and Viagra have higher death rates than medication abortion.