Supreme Court Temporarily Allows Mail-Order Abortion Drug Access
The Supreme Court’s temporary order maintains current access to mifepristone as courts weigh broader legal and medical questions.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily allowed the continued use of mail-order distribution for the abortion drug mifepristone while ongoing litigation proceeds. The decision pauses a lower court ruling from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which had reinstated in-person dispensing requirements.
The case stems from a lawsuit filed by Louisiana and other states challenging federal policies that permit telemedicine prescriptions and mail delivery of the drug. The Supreme Court’s order allows existing rules to remain in place briefly as both sides submit additional filings for further consideration.
According to date that was reported by LifeNews, recent research has examined the safety profile of mifepristone. An analysis of 865,727 commercial insurance claims from 2017 to 2023 found that 94,605 women—nearly 11%—experienced serious complications within 45 days. These included hemorrhage in 3.31% of cases, emergency room visits in 4.73%, and sepsis in 0.10%. Additional peer-reviewed studies indicate that three quarters of ER visits within 30 days were classified as severe or critical, and more than 1 in 10 women experienced at least one serious adverse event. Complications can include not only hemorrhaging, infection, and sepsis, but also death.
Previously, the UOJ reported that a Colorado bill mandated abortion pills on college campuses.
