Politics

Advocacy groups prepare response for decision that could limit abortion pill access

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Both doctors and abortion advocacy groups are preparing themselves for a possible court ruling that could effectively end access to the abortion pill.

District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo is overseeing a case that could end the use of mifepristone, which is the first of two pills used to end a pregnancy.

Despite the Biden administration stating that they will immediately appeal any ruling that restricts the use of abortion bills, both doctors and activists in favor of abortion have urged Americans not to rely on their federal government and ensure that they stock-up on abortion pills.

While the Biden administration plans to swiftly appeal any ruling against the pills — which could come any time after lawyers for both sides submit their briefs on Friday — advocates say they are not counting on federal leaders to take the sweeping actions they believe are needed to deal with the potential loss of the country’s most-used method of abortion.

“We don’t hold our breath for government action,” said Elisa Wells, who is the founder of the organization Plan C which assists patients with ordering the pill online. “We know that in the absence of political support and leadership, this is what we have to do. We have to provide for ourselves and our community.”

Eighteen states already have restrictions in place on the pills, many of those states have near bans on abortions.

The implication of this ruling could mean that these drugs could be banned altogether in states which are controlled by The Democrats and that patients would have to arrange in-person appointments with a doctor to gain access to them.

Advocates have planned an “emergency mobilization” on Saturday close to the Texas courthouse hearing the case on Saturday to attract attention to their cause and force the hands of politicians.  At this stage, the Biden administration have resisted calls to declare a public emergency on abortion.

HHS (Health and Human Services) Secretary Xavier Becerra telling reporters last month that he’s “very confident” the court will side with the FDA.

“The FDA took an action based solely on its statutory authority and the science — the data in front of it and the evidence behind it,” Becerra told reporters in late January. “FDA did not take this under consideration lightly. We’ve had more than 20 years of the use of this medication abortion. So we feel very confident that the work that FDA has done will stand the test — whether it’s time or the courts.”

Morgan Hopkins, who is president of the abortion justice group All Above All, believes that despite the confidence of HHS, Biden missed a massive opportunity with the State of the Union, both to inform the public about the case and to discuss the need to protect access to abortions.

Hopkins did credit the Biden administration with what they have done in the eight months since Roe was overturned, but “they really have to take it up a notch in terms of public education.”

“I think the entire administration has a role to play in making sure that the public understands both what’s happening in terms of the interference from anti-abortion politicians and judges, but also the very real implications on abortion care,” she said.

ARTICLE: PAUL MURDOCH

MANAGING EDITOR: LUKE MOCHERMAN

PHOTO CREDIT: THE HILL

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Paul Murdoch

Paul, 37, is from Scotland in the UK, but currently lives and works in Bangkok. Paul has worked in different industries such as telemarketing, retail, hospitality, farming, insurance, and teaching, where he works now. He teaches at an all-girls High School in Bangkok. “It’s a lot of work, but I love my job.” Paul has an active interest in politics. His reason for writing for FBA is to offer people the facts and allow them to make up their own minds. Whilst he believes opinion columns have their place, it is also important that people can have accurate news with no bias.

Paul, 37, is from Scotland in the UK, but currently lives and works in Bangkok. Paul has worked in different industries such as telemarketing, retail, hospitality, farming, insurance, and teaching, where he works now. He teaches at an all-girls High School in Bangkok. “It’s a lot of work, but I love my job.” Paul has an active interest in politics. His reason for writing for FBA is to offer people the facts and allow them to make up their own minds. Whilst he believes opinion columns have their place, it is also important that people can have accurate news with no bias.

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