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| Mifepristone: US abortion pill in limbo after competing rulings | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas has ordered a hold on longstanding approval of a widely used abortion drug, mifepristone. | |
| The pill has been allowed for over 20 years, and is used in most abortions. | |
| But just an hour later, an Obama-picked judge in Washington state issued a competing injunction, ordering no change be made to its availability. | |
| The duelling court orders make it likely that the issue will escalate to the US Supreme Court. | |
| In a 67-page opinion, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas suspended his own ruling for seven days to allow the government time to appeal. | |
| His decision could limit access to the drug for millions of women. It comes after the Supreme Court removed constitutional protections for abortion last year, triggering a wave of state-by-state bans. | |
| Latest updates and reaction | Latest updates and reaction |
| Abortion pills explained in 60 seconds | Abortion pills explained in 60 seconds |
| A lawsuit filed by an anti-abortion group in Texas, the Alliance Defending Freedom, argued that the drug's safety was never properly studied. | A lawsuit filed by an anti-abortion group in Texas, the Alliance Defending Freedom, argued that the drug's safety was never properly studied. |
| 'Barbaric' abortion law nearly killed these Texas women | 'Barbaric' abortion law nearly killed these Texas women |
| 'Barbaric' abortion law nearly killed these Texas women | 'Barbaric' abortion law nearly killed these Texas women |
| In his ruling, Judge Kacsmaryk said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the drug had violated federal rules that allow for accelerated approval of certain drugs. | |
| The FDA spent four years reviewing mifepristone before it was approved in 2000. | The FDA spent four years reviewing mifepristone before it was approved in 2000. |
| Legal analysts said the ruling threatened to upend the entire foundation of America's drug regulatory system. | Legal analysts said the ruling threatened to upend the entire foundation of America's drug regulatory system. |
| The Alliance Defending Freedom called the Texas ruling "a significant victory" for women and doctors. | |
| Jeanne Mancini, president of another anti-abortion group, March for Life, hailed it as "a major step forward for women and girls". | |
| But an hour after the Texas ruling, another federal judge, this one in Washington state, issued a competing 31-page injunction on a separate case, ordering the FDA to keep the drug on the market in the Democratic-run states that brought the lawsuit. | |
| How safe is the abortion pill mifepristone? | How safe is the abortion pill mifepristone? |
| Man sues women for helping ex-wife get abortion | Man sues women for helping ex-wife get abortion |
| Can these boxes found on US streets save babies’ lives? | Can these boxes found on US streets save babies’ lives? |
| Mifepristone, part of a two-drug regimen that induces abortions, effectively stops the pregnancy, while the second drug, misoprostol, empties the uterus. | Mifepristone, part of a two-drug regimen that induces abortions, effectively stops the pregnancy, while the second drug, misoprostol, empties the uterus. |
| It was first approved for the termination of pregnancy up until seven weeks gestation. | It was first approved for the termination of pregnancy up until seven weeks gestation. |
| In 2016, its approved use was extended to 10 weeks of pregnancy. | In 2016, its approved use was extended to 10 weeks of pregnancy. |
| Mifepristone is also used to treat women who have suffered miscarriages and Cushing syndrome, a hormone-related condition. | Mifepristone is also used to treat women who have suffered miscarriages and Cushing syndrome, a hormone-related condition. |
| The FDA, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists (ACOG) and other mainstream medical organisations say both mifepristone and misoprostol are safe for use. | The FDA, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists (ACOG) and other mainstream medical organisations say both mifepristone and misoprostol are safe for use. |
| The FDA has reported a total of 26 deaths associated with the drug since it was approved - a rate of about 0.65 deaths per 100,000 by-pill abortions. | The FDA has reported a total of 26 deaths associated with the drug since it was approved - a rate of about 0.65 deaths per 100,000 by-pill abortions. |
| For comparison, the death rate associated with habitual aspirin use is about 15.3 deaths per 100,000 aspirin users. | For comparison, the death rate associated with habitual aspirin use is about 15.3 deaths per 100,000 aspirin users. |
| Last week, the Democratic governor of Washington state announced that a three-year supply of mifepristone had been stockpiled by state officials in the event that it became unavailable nationwide. | |
| Days later the Republican governor of neighbouring Idaho signed a new law making "abortion trafficking" illegal. The law makes it a crime for adults to help children leave the state to obtain an abortion without a parent's consent. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Abortion | Abortion |
| Texas | Texas |
| US politics | US politics |
| United States | United States |