Supreme Court Decision Rules: Mifepristone to Remain Accessible For Now

Dallas, TX—June 13, 2024— The Supreme Court ruled that mifepristone, a safe and effective medication, will remain accessible and available via prescription for the foreseeable future. This decision is a victory for communities all across the country, but it highlights the concerning reality that access to essential health care should never hinge on judicial rulings.

Kamyon Conner, she/her, executive director of Texas Equal Access Fund issued the following statement:

While we are relieved by this outcome, it is crucial to recognize that judges should not be in the business of determining whether people can obtain safe, effective medicines. This case underscores the ongoing need to protect access to essential health care, like abortion, for everyone.

Mifepristone has been used by over five million people in the United States since the FDA approved it more than 20 years ago. It has consistently proven to be safe and effective, allowing patients to make private medical decisions and expanding access to reproductive health care. Unfortunately, this access is increasingly under threat in our country. We know this will not be the end of the attacks.

This case represents a calculated attack on abortion, aiming to strip people of the freedom to make their own health care decisions. The repercussions extend beyond abortion care, potentially stifling medical innovation, disrupting the drug approval process, and putting all approved medications at risk of political interference. The judicial ping-pong surrounding mifepristone has created chaos and confusion, deliberately affecting the availability of a long-approved, safe medication.

This ruling is particularly significant for us in Texas, despite the existing abortion ban. It's crucial that Texans have access to mifepristone in cases where exceptions allow for emergency care, ensuring that patients can receive the safe, effective medication they need without delay. Additionally, many Texans travel to other states to access abortion services. The ability to obtain mifepristone in these states is essential for maintaining their health and autonomy. Access to this medication across state lines reinforces the fundamental right to make private medical decisions and underscores the necessity of safeguarding reproductive rights for everyone, regardless of their home state.

Communities deserve unfettered access to the medications they need, and providers should be able to offer these treatments without unnecessary judicial or political interference. These cases reflect a broader weaponization of the courts by the anti-abortion movement, aiming to ban abortion entirely. We must remain vigilant as these attacks on abortion access, our rights, and our freedoms are far from over. We call on every elected official at all levels of government to take decisive action to protect access to abortion and reproductive health care.

Texas Equal Access Fund will never stop fighting to ensure that communities have access to the essential health care they need. Our commitment to reproductive justice remains unwavering, and we will continue to advocate for a future where no one has to hustle for their health care.

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Texas Equal Access Fund offers both financial and emotional support to individuals in North & East Texas who lack the means to access abortion and other reproductive care. Firmly committed to the principles of reproductive justice, TEA Fund fiercely advocates for the right to access all reproductive health options, including abortion, birth control, and parenting support. Follow us @teafund