Aiexpress – The Biden administration has strongly advocated for the Supreme Court to preserve broad access to a drug that is frequently utilized in medical abortions. They have expressed concern that limiting access to this essential medication would have severe consequences for women, the healthcare system, the agency, and the general public.
The US solicitor general, Elizabeth Prelogar, along with counsels representing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), have submitted a joint brief on Tuesday to support the defense of mifepristone. This drug is currently being challenged by a group of conservative doctors and their associates.
The federal agencies stated in their brief that the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, who are challenging the FDA’s approval of mifepristone in 2000, are mistaken in their claims. They argue that the initial approval was not flawed and that subsequent decisions to increase accessibility to the drug did not pose a safety risk.
The Biden administration emphasized in its brief that numerous studies have consistently demonstrated that the occurrence of serious adverse events when mifepristone is used in accordance with its approved conditions is extremely rare.
According to the government, extensive research and real-world observations were carried out between the years 2000 and 2016 to assess the safety and efficacy of the medication. As a result, the FDA concluded that the drug can be safely used up to 10 weeks gestation and does not necessitate more than one in-person visit for patients. Furthermore, the dosing regimen was adjusted in 2016, as it was found to be equally effective.
According to the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, they believe that the medication is dangerous and claim that the FDA did not conduct sufficient studies to ensure its safety.
According to the government’s brief, this case is the first instance where a court has limited access to an FDA-approved drug by questioning the FDA’s expert judgment on the necessary conditions to ensure the drug’s safe use.
According to the government, the argument put forth by the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine is primarily influenced by their religious and moral convictions that abortion is immoral, rather than being grounded in factual evidence.
The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine has received support from the ultra-conservative organization, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), with the objective of promoting Christian values, limiting LGBT+ rights, and banning abortion. ADF has been involved in significant legal cases, such as representing the plaintiffs in the Masterpiece Cakeshop v Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which resulted in reduced rights for same-sex couples. Furthermore, ADF has provided model legislation that contributed to the recent challenge to Roe v Wade in the Dobbs v Jackson case.
Over half of the abortions performed in the United States are carried out using medication.
Mifepristone and misoprostol make up a two-drug combination commonly referred to as the “abortion pill.” This medication enables individuals to safely and privately terminate a pregnancy in the comfort of their own homes, without the need for a medical facility.
According to the Biden administration, mifepristone is often the preferred method for legally terminating early pregnancies among many patients. These individuals may opt for mifepristone instead of surgical abortion due to various reasons such as medical necessity, a need for privacy, or past traumatic experiences.
The accessibility of mifepristone is being challenged in two cases: FDA v Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and Danco Laboratories v Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. However, the dates for oral arguments in these consolidated cases have not yet been determined.
The court is expected to reach a decision in the cases by June of this year.
