A federal judge has invalidated segments of a North Carolina law concerning patients’ access to the abortion pill mifepristone amidst a broader legal clash over reproductive rights.
Chief U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles has struck down the state’s provisions mandating that mifepristone be prescribed solely by doctors and requiring in-person consultations for prescription and follow-up. She noted that these requirements contradict previous FDA decisions.
The ruling coincides with the U.S. Supreme Court‘s deliberation on a case that could reinstate similar restrictions nationwide initiated by anti-abortion organizations.
While upholding certain North Carolina regulations, including in-person consultations, ultrasounds, and blood tests, Eagles emphasized that these were not explicitly rejected by the FDA.
North Carolina’s Republican legislative leaders defended the law, while the state’s Democratic Attorney General, Josh Stein, opposed it, citing concerns for women’s rights.
Plaintiff Dr. Amy Bryant welcomed the ruling, asserting that the state cannot interfere with the FDA’s expertise.
Mifepristone, integral to medication abortion, accounts for the majority of abortions in the U.S., raising the stakes of the legal battles surrounding its regulation.
The Supreme Court’s consideration of a case challenging FDA approval reflects broader tensions over reproductive health policy, compounded by conflicting court rulings.
