Court Blocks Mifepristone Mail and Telehealth
A federal appeals court has blocked mifepristone from being mailed. The court is based in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Louisiana filed the lawsuit that led to this ruling. The court paused a Food and Drug Administration rule that had made mifepristone easier to get.
That rule was first made in 2021 and made permanent in 2023. Now mifepristone can only be given out at clinics in person.
Doctors can no longer prescribe it by telehealth either. This applies to all states including those where abortion is legal. Sources say the ruling will likely be appealed to the Supreme Court.
Klear Note — Mifepristone is a pill used for early abortion. The FDA allowed mail and telehealth access in 2021. This court ruling reverses that, affecting all US states.
Key Terms 5
- mifepristone A pill used to end a pregnancy in early stages
- federal appeals court A court that reviews decisions made by lower courts
- telehealth Getting medical care or prescriptions remotely via phone or video
- Food and Drug Administration US government body that approves and regulates medicines
- Supreme Court The highest court in the United States