Supreme Court temporarily lifts telehealth ban on abortion drug
by Danielle Haynes · UPIMay 4 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court on Monday blocked a lower court's ruling that implemented a nationwide ban on doctors prescribing the abortion drug mifepristone during telehealth visits.
The high court temporarily reinstated telehealth and mail access to the drug while it considers the case.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday unanimously ruled in favor of the state of Louisiana in its case asking for the ban.
One of the manufacturers of the drug, Danco, filed an appeal with the Supreme Court on Saturday asking for the ban to be lifted. The company said the appellate court's ruling leaves patients stuck in limbo because it didn't clarify the legal use of the drug.
About half of all abortions in the United States use medications such as mifepristone.
"Danco has been free to rely on procedures set by the FDA to distribute its product," lawyers for Danco said in a filing with the court.
"The Fifth Circuit's decision immediately ends that," the lawyers said. "A stay should issue to prevent the disruption and confusion that will result if the decision below were to remain operative."
Another maker of mifepristone, GenBioPro, also filed an appeal.
The Supreme Court said the temporary stay would be in place until 5 p.m. EDT May 11.
The Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone for the medical termination of a pregnancy in 2000. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA temporarily allowed doctors to prescribe the drug during telehealth visits and in 2023 adopted the rule permanently.
This week in Washington
President Donald Trump signs a series of executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday. Trump signed an order to expand workers' access to retirement accounts. Trump also signed legislation ending a 75-day partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security after the House voted in favor of funding. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo