Power to Decide Condemns Texas Judge’s Decision to Further Restrict Abortion Access
Power to Decide condemns today's decision by federal Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk to block access to mifepristone for people across the country. Mifepristone is one of two FDA-approved medications most commonly used in medication abortion in the United States. Meanwhile, a federal judge in Washington state issued a ruling protecting access to mifepristone. While there is a lot that remains unknown, what we do know is that the Texas decision doesn’t take effect for seven days.
The following can be attributed to Power to Decide CEO Raegan McDonald-Mosley, MD, MPH:
“Mifepristone is safe, effective and has been used by more than five million people since the FDA approved it more than 20 years ago. It is currently used in more than half of all abortions performed nationwide and more recently has become a useful tool in miscarriage management Taking it off the market would significantly compromise abortion access across the country — including in my home state of Maryland, and other states that have worked to secure access to abortion care.
“As it stands, 14 states are now without a clinic that provides abortion, denying this essential care to more than 15 million people who can become pregnant, with the burden falling hardest on people of color and those struggling to make ends meet. Clinics in the rest of the country are already overwhelmed by the influx of patients from states that have banned abortion. If mifepristone is removed from the market, it will only put abortion out of reach for more people, which increases health risks and further impacts those who already lack access to the full spectrum of reproductive health services.
“While some clinics may offer misoprostol-only medication abortion care, which is safe and effective, others may not. Power to Decide’s AbortionFinder.org site will keep people updated on where medication abortion is being offered as information becomes available.
“Everyone deserves access to the abortion method they want and need, and the effort to ban mifepristone further limits access for more people. We call on the Biden-Harris administration to take action and explore all options for protecting access to the most effective methods of medication abortion.”
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Power to Decide is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to advance sexual and reproductive well-being for all by providing trusted information, expanding access to quality services and catalyzing culture change.
