A U.S. appeals court appeared sceptical Wednesday toward a Louisiana effort to restrict access to mifepristone, the abortion medication that can be prescribed through telemedicine and distributed by mail under federal rules.
Louisiana is challenging a 2023 federal decision that expanded access to the drug. The state argues that the policy conflicts with its abortion restrictions.
During arguments before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, judges questioned the legal basis for Louisiana’s challenge.
The case is part of the continuing national legal battle over abortion access following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning the constitutional right to abortion.
Mifepristone remains one of the most widely used medications for medication abortion in the United States.
A ruling against the federal government could affect how the drug is prescribed and distributed beyond Louisiana because the federal regulations apply nationally.
SOURCES:
Reuters report — U.S. appeals court mifepristone case
Reuters report syndicated by Nvdium
