Court Ruling Suspends FDA Approval of Mifepristone
Vermont Business Magazine Vermont health leaders, including the Vermont Medical Society, the Vermont Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter, the Vermont Psychiatric Association the American College of Physicians Vermont Chapter and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Vermont Chapter, strongly believe that everyone should have access to reproductive care that includes safe and legal abortion.
“We vehemently oppose regulations, restrictions, or mandates that impede access to evidence-based care. Our organizations denounce the decision by the federal District Court in Texas issued last Friday that intends to restrict access to mifepristone and interfere with the ability of health care clinicians to deliver the highest quality evidence-based care for their patients.
“Vermonters still have access to mifepristone at this time - the Court has delayed the impact of its decision for seven days to allow an emergency appeal, and Vermont is also part of a separate lawsuit based out of Washington State to protect access to mifepristone. However, the uncertainty and fear caused by this lawsuit is real and the impact could be far reaching. Suspending FDA approval of mifepristone has the potential to affect every single state - not just those in which abortion is currently illegal - and will exacerbate the current abortion care crisis in the U.S.
“Mifepristone has been safe and legal in the United States since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it over 20 years ago. In April 2019, the FDA approved the first generic form of mifepristone, following a review of the evidence that medication abortion is a safe, effective way to end an early pregnancy — with an outstanding safety record.
“In addition to abortion, Mifepristone is also used for evidence-based indications in medical management of early miscarriage and in the 2nd & 3rd trimester when the fetus has died before birth. “This ruling could have far-reaching impacts for our rural communities with studies showing that the farther a woman lives from an abortion clinic, the more likely she is to choose medication abortion.
“A 2021 study looking at about 57,000 abortions in almost 80% of the country’s counties showed that a 47-mile increase in distance to the nearest clinic was associated with a 41% increase in the use of telemedicine and medication abortion.
“Vermont has made significant strides to protect patients from restrictions to evidence-based care. Despite the uncertainty caused by this ruling, which could allow an out of state court to impact services delivered in our State, our organizations remain committed to continue to fight for Vermonters’ right to access safe and effective reproductive health care.”
Source: 4.10.2023. (MONTPELIER, VT) Vermont Medical Society
