FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a ruling on Thursday, June 13, in the case against abortion pills, also known as mifepristone. The case was brought before the court by anti-abortion groups and doctors earlier this year.
Read our full background blog on the court rulings here.
The decision rejected the case brought by the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, an anti-abortion group, because the plaintiff did not have standing in the case, not because the Court supports the human right to bodily autonomy.
In a unanimous decision, Justice Kavanaugh wrote that not every dispute was for judges to decide. “Some issues may be left to the political and democratic processes,” he wrote.
According to 2023 data from Guttmacher Institute, nearly two-thirds of abortions nationwide use mifepristone as part of the medication abortion regimen, which also includes misoprostol. Out-of-state travel for abortions—either to have a procedure or obtain abortion pills—more than doubled in 2023 compared with 2019.
Mifepristone was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over 20 years ago. There is an overwhelming body of scientific and medical evidence that shows this drug is safe and effective. It is safer to use than many common drugs, like Tylenol.
This ruling is the first of two expected decisions on abortion access this term. The Court is expected to rule on a challenge to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which protects patients’ access to emergency abortion care, later this month.
Interim Executive Director Sami Alloy released the following statement:
Pro-Choice Washington is relieved by the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold patients’ rights access to medication abortion as a safe and effective reproductive health care option—for now.
While today’s decision protects access to this essential medication, future challenges will come. We must continue our work to protect and expand reproductive freedom until rights are restored for patients in every state.
Pro-Choice Washington envisions a future where every person has complete reproductive and bodily autonomy. No one should have their options for essential health care, including medication abortion, limited by politics.
Any delay or disruption to abortion care is unacceptable.
Today’s decision underscores how critical it is to build power at the state level to protect abortion rights. Justice Kavanaugh’s opinion leaves the door open for future challenges to medication abortion from state policymakers.
We must continue the work to protect our democratic institutions and safeguard our fundamental right to the full range of reproductive options through voting, holding elected leaders accountable, and building power for our communities. Elections matter because every single elected position has the power to restrict or protect reproductive freedom and health care.
From now until November, we must stay engaged and involved to elect leaders who will protect Washington —and our country— as a place where abortion seekers, regardless of where they live, can receive the care they need.
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Since becoming an independent organization in October 2021, Pro-Choice Washington has been at the forefront of the reproductive freedom landscape. It has helped to expand and protect abortion access across Washington state. Pro-Choice Washington is an independent advocacy organization dedicated solely to reproductive freedom in Washington.
Contact:
Ryan MacDonald, Communications Director, ryan@prochoicewashington.org
(206) 624-1990
