'They will stop at nothing': Fate of abortion pill on the line

WEST PALM BEACH — A ruling by a federal judge suspending access to the nation's most common abortion pill has plunged the future of mifepristone into uncertainty.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, issued a ruling Friday that could bar healthcare providers from prescribing the drug, even in states where abortion is legal. The Justice Department filed a notice of appeal within hours of the Texas judge’s ruling, triggering a legal battle expected to land in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mifepristone has been used in more than half of all abortions in the U.S. since the Food and Drug Administration approved its use in 2000. Laura Goodhue, executive director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, said the potential ban is just more pressure on clinicians already working overtime as state lawmakers try to outlaw their patients’ needs.

"We've seen since Roe v. Wade fell that they will stop at nothing to make it impossible for people to access abortion care,” Goodhue said Saturday. “Make no mistake. This would have an absolutely dire impact on access to abortion.”

Mifepristone is still available in Florida pending the outcome of the government's appeal.

Here are five things to know about the drug as its fate hangs in the balance:

What is mifepristone, and how does it work?

Mifepristone is the first of a two-pill regimen prescribed to end a pregnancy up to 10 weeks. It and misoprostol work together to interrupt the supply of hormones to the uterus, without which the uterus cannot support the pregnancy.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, mifepristone accounts for more than half of all abortions in the U.S.

"That's how safe it is, how popular it is," Goodhue said. "That's how needed it is in our health care system."

According to USA Today, some clinics and doctors that prescribe the two-drug combination have said that if mifepristone were pulled from the market, they would switch to using only the second drug, misoprostol.

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Is mifepristone safe?

Yes, according to health officials. The FDA maintains that mifepristone and misoprostol safely terminated 99.6% of pregnancies with few complications.

How do I get mifepristone and misoprostol?

The medicine must be prescribed by a doctor. It is not available over-the-counter in pharmacies or other stores, though in some places only a telemedicine visit is required to get mifepristone and misoprostol.

Who wants mifepristone off the shelves?

An anti-abortion coalition. The conservative organization Alliance Defending Freedom filed a lawsuit Nov. 18 in Texas arguing that mifepristone should be pulled from the market because of medical risks, despite longstanding research concluding that it's safe.

According to USA Today, Julie Blake, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, said the group wants the FDA "to put politics aside ... and protect women and girls by removing these drugs from the market or, at a minimum, by restoring important safeguards on their use."

Goodhue called the effort a "sham lawsuit."

"It is a concerted effort by extremists who want to end access to abortion," she said.

Can people still get surgical abortions?

Yes. Kacsmaryk's ruling would not prevent pregnant people from undergoing surgical, or procedural abortions inside a clinic, though other pending legislation in Florida might. Conservative Republican lawmakers are seeking to ban abortion after six weeks, down from 15 weeks. The Florida House of Representatives is scheduled to debate HB 7, the six-week abortion ban, on Thursday.

Goodhue said the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade prompted a surge of out-of-state patients seeking abortions in Florida clinics. The number of abortion patients quadrupled in the last year, she said, and the demand will likely continue to grow with the fate of mifepristone on the line.

Can people still get medication abortions?

Yes. In countries where it's difficult to access mifepristone, many opt for misoprostol-only regimens, which is considered a safe alternative, according to the World Health Organization.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: What is mifepristone? 5 things to know about 'abortion pill'