Washington, Apr 21 (EFE).- The Supreme Court of the United States decided this Friday to block the restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone that an appeals court had ordered last week.
The decision means maintaining the “status quo” on access to the drug unchanged.
At least while the appeals court decides on the legality of the approval that US regulators gave it more than 20 years ago.
The appeals court in question – that of the Fifth Circuit, which includes the states of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi – approved restricting access to mifepristone while evaluating the decision of a Texas judge to completely prohibit access to the pill, which it is used in more than half of the abortions in the country.
The ruling marks the first time that the Supreme Court refers to a case related to abortion.
This determination follows his controversial decision last summer to remove the constitutional protection he had enjoyed since the 1970s.
Such a position had generated an avalanche of restrictions in states governed by conservatives.
Biden highlighted abortion pill decision
In a message celebrating the Supreme Court’s decision, US President Joe Biden stressed that “mifepristone continues to be available and is approved for safe and effective use as we continue our battle in the courts.”
Biden assured that his government will continue its defense of the approval of mifepristone by regulatory bodies, and declared that it will continue to “fight politically motivated attacks on women’s health.”
The highest judicial body in the country decided this Friday to block for the moment a series of restrictions that the court of appeals for the Fifth Circuit had ordered last week, such as prohibiting the pill from being prescribed after seven weeks of pregnancy or being sent by mail .
Two of the most conservative justices on the court, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, disagreed with the decision.
Court of appeals will have the last word
The ruling returns the case to the appeals court, which has set the date for the start of oral arguments for May 17.
At the center of the legal dispute is the authorization that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave mifepristone 23 years ago.
The Department of Justice raised the case
The order was disputed by the Joe Biden government and a Louisiana appeals court decided that the drug was only available up to the first seven weeks of pregnancy, three less than previously, and that it must be picked up in person, among other restrictions.
But the Justice Department raised the case to the Supreme Court alleging that the restriction would have serious consequences for women and for the drug industry, so the high court has had to establish its position on the situation.
Planned Parenthood pronouncement
The Planned Parenthood organization, which runs the largest network of reproductive health clinics in the country, welcomed Friday’s decision, but noted that women’s health should not be at the mercy of the system.
“We are relieved that access to the drug will continue to be protected while this meritless case proceeds. We can have a breather, but without losing vigilance,” said the head of the organization, Alexis McGill Johnson.
For its part, the main group of conservative lawyers that asked the Supreme Court to maintain the restrictions of the appeals court, the Alliance for the Defense of Freedom, limited itself to recalling that the case must still be resolved in court.
“We look forward to a final resolution of this case that will hold the FDA accountable,” said attorney Erik Baptist, who is with the group.
Kamala Harris also celebrated the decision on the abortion pill
US Vice President Kamala Harris has led the White House’s response to abortion restrictions that have been passed in several states.
Harris also welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, although he said that “no one should interfere in the treatment between a woman and her doctor.”