Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry and the Office of Attorney General have released a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) resource regarding medication abortion and mifepristone access in the state. The release comes as pending lawsuits challenge the drug’s FDA-approval status, causing confusion and misinformation in the news and media reports.
Despite the ongoing lawsuits, Attorney General Henry wants to clarify that “mifepristone remains legal in Pennsylvania.” The information sheet is aimed at providing clarity on the drug’s legal status and availability for individuals considering abortion in Pennsylvania.
Mifepristone was first approved by the FDA in 2000 as a safe and effective medication for use in medication abortion. Since then, it has been used approximately 5.6 million times in the United States, accounting for 55% of all abortions in Pennsylvania.
Although the drug’s FDA approval is currently being challenged in a Texas federal court, the US Supreme Court recently ruled that the approval should remain in place until the case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, reaches a final decision.
Furthermore, another lawsuit, State of Washington v. FDA, filed by 18 Attorneys General, including Attorney General Henry, is asking a Washington federal court to set aside certain FDA prescribing requirements on mifepristone that unnecessarily burden both abortion providers and their patients.
Attorney General Henry encourages anyone with questions or concerns about abortion access in Pennsylvania to contact the Women’s Law Project for more information. The FAQ resource is part of the office’s ongoing efforts to promote access to healthcare for all Pennsylvanians.
