Family Council Joins Amicus Brief Opposing Abortion Drugs Before the U.S. Supreme Court
On Thursday Family Council joined a pro-life amicus brief by Advancing American Freedom and more than 30 other state and national groups before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The brief is part of two lawsuits over the FDA’s decision to approve the abortion drug mifepristone, also known as RU-486, and to eliminate safety protocols and standards for the drug. The two lawsuits have been consolidated into a single case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Among other things, Thursday’s brief notes:
- The FDA knew about the significant negative health consequences of mifepristone — or RU-486 — before approving it in 2000.
- Despite the danger, the FDA has removed safety requirements designed to protect women and weakened the reporting requirements for adverse events caused by RU-486.
- The FDA also removed safety standards requiring a woman to be assessed in-person by a doctor before receiving RU-486.
When the FDA first approved RU-486 in 2000, a woman seeking a drug-induced abortion was required to visit the doctor three times. In 2016, that number of visits was reduced from three to one. And in 2021, the FDA removed the in-person visit with a doctor altogether — making it possible to obtain RU-486 through the mail without medical exam or sonogram.
Over the years our state legislators have enacted various laws preventing abortion drugs from being delivered by mail in Arkansas and requiring abortionists to follow basic health and safety standards for abortion drugs. The FDA and the Biden Administration have taken steps at the federal level that threaten to undermine good, pro-life laws like these. This U.S. Supreme Court case pushes back against abortion drugs and federal abortion policies.
Family Council is pleased to join with so many other excellent groups who are willing to take a stand for life before our federal courts.
