Abortion Set Back: US Judge Suspends Mifepristone Abortion Pill Approval

A federal judge in Texas on Friday ordered the suspension of the US FDA approval of the abortion medication mifepristone.

This abortion drug is widely used in the US since 2000. It has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of America. Mifepristone is one of two drugs used for medication abortion in the United States, along with misoprostol, which is used to treat other medical conditions.

U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, a Trump administration appointee in Amarillo, Texas, signed an injunction directing the FDA to stay mifepristone’s approval while a lawsuit challenging the safety and approval of the drug continues.

His ruling, however, doesn’t immediately go into effect, as he gives the federal government seven days to appeal Federal lawyers representing the FDA are expected to swiftly appeal.