During a Supreme Court hearing, justices expressed skepticism about efforts to restrict access to a popular abortion pill, questioning whether a group of anti-abortion doctors had the right to challenge the FDA’s approval of the drug. Most justices seemed poised to side with the federal government, with only Justices Alito and possibly Thomas in favor of limiting the pill’s distribution.
The case centers around mifepristone, a drug used in the majority of abortions in the US. Justices debated whether the FDA acted correctly in expanding access to the drug through telemedicine and mail prescriptions. The Biden administration sought Supreme Court intervention after a federal appeals court leaned towards restricting the drug’s distribution.
The case could affect the FDA’s regulatory powers and reproductive rights. Questions arose regarding whether the anti-abortion groups had standing to sue, with the focus less on the merits of the case. The arguments centered on potential harm to the pharmaceutical industry and women’s access to safe abortion care.
The anti-abortion doctors claimed moral injury from the drug’s availability but struggled to demonstrate concrete harm. Justices seemed concerned about the remote likelihood of harm to doctors who oppose abortion. The case highlighted the consequences of challenging the FDA’s regulatory decisions and raised doubts about the legal standing of the anti-abortion groups.
