The United States Department of Justice has recently made a major move to ensure access to the abortion pill remains available to citizens. The Department has filed a legal brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of the prescription drugs mifepristone and misoprostol, which are commonly used to terminate pregnancies. This filing marks a major shift in the government’s stance on the contentious issue.
The brief was filed in support of medication abortion provider “Gibson’s Clinic” in Texas – a branch of Whole Woman’s Health. The clinic has been in a legal battle since 2015 after the Texas State Legislature passed a law requiring medical practitioners to adhere to Food and Drug Administration protocols. This law was seen as a direct attempt to limit medication abortions and was challenged by multiple health providers. The Supreme Court agreed with the legality of the law in 2016.
However, the Department of Justice has now argued that the law in question does not focus on patient safety nor does it improve the quality of care for women. In its legal brief, the Department states that it is the FDA protocols that are most important and that the Texas law should not override them.
The filing of the brief is a major move by the Department of Justice and a major win for abortion providers. This could potentially affect access to abortion pills around the country as restrictions on abortion continue to tighten in many states. This also marks the Trump administration’s first foray into the abortion realm since the 2016 election and sets precedence for future legal battles regarding abortion rights.
The Department of Justice’s filing is a big step forward in the fight for abortion rights and access. The Supreme Court has yet to make a final ruling on this case, but it will be interesting to see how it unfolds in the coming months. If the Supreme Court does support the Justice Department’s argument, it will protect access to abortion and potentially expand access to it across the country. This could lead to an even greater battle between the pro-life and pro-choice communities.
