On Friday, SCOTUS gave us a pause in support of abortion rights AND the RI abortion access bill, the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (EACA) took a NEW step forward!
- LAST FRIDAY (federal): The Supreme Court just announced a temporarily block on mifepristone restrictions. The decision delays a ruling from a federal appeals court and will allow abortion providers to continue providing the drug as usual for now. This is far from over. We will keep you updated – and we will always care for us!
- THIS COMING THURSDAY (State): The RI House Judiciary Committee just scheduled the EACA for consideration (voting yes/no) THIS COMING Thursday, April 20th. BE THERE to make sure that lawmakers #PassTheEACA! Together, we turned out and spoke out for the House Judiciary hearing and now they are FINALLY putting it up for a vote. We need to BE THERE to show them that Rhode Islanders want this bill passed this year!
JOIN US starting at 3pm meeting at Room 101 in the RI State House. They will not accept testimony at this time, but we need to be there to push for passage. Register today for updates as more information comes out. ARE YOU WITH US??!!!
We have included more information on the case below and we will be in touch, but for now let’s breathe a sigh of relief and get RAMPED UP for next Thursday!
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SCOTUS & MIFEPRISTONE CASE UPDATE
– Education is Power –
We have been talking to you recently about the lawsuit by anti-abortion extremists attempting to revoke riday the FDA’s approval of mifepristone. As you know, a Trump appointed judge in Texas issued a decision attempting to stay (aka halt) access. There has been a great deal of activity since.
In the dead of night last Wednesday, the Fifth Circuit issued an order, which attempts to reinstate burdensome restrictions from pre-2016, including taking away the ability to send mifepristone through the mail and imposes a limit on which health professionals can provide and insists that only physicians may prescribe the drug. It does not revoke FDA approval of the drug entirely, but if this decision stands, it would seriously limit abortion access in every state.
In response, the Department of Justice announced on Thursday that they are seeking emergency relief from the Supreme Court. Danco Laboratories the makers of Mifeprex (mifepristone) also submitted a request to the Supreme Court to block the order that threatens access to mifepristone. The results of the requests are pending.
Governors in New York, Washington, Massachusetts and California have taken action to try to protect the ability of folks in their states to get and use mifepristone, including purchasing a larger supply to ensure access or expanding protections for medication abortion.
A ban on mifepristone would take away an important option for abortion that has helped to address the lack of clinic based provision and give people the option of self managing their care on their own terms. Mifepristone is also used for miscarriage management, to treat lupus, and to reduce the risk of ulcers, among many other medical uses. The sad fact is that the people advancing this lawsuit do NOT care that taking away this option has dangerous and far reaching implications.
On Friday the Supreme Court temporarily blocked heavy restrictions on the use of mifepristone, one of two drugs used for a medication abortion. The decision, issued Friday, delays a ruling from a federal appeals court and will allow abortion providers to continue providing the drug as usual until at least 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday. Parties to the lawsuit have until noon Tuesday to file arguments with the high court.
The Supreme Court’s intervention allows physicians to continue using mifepristone for abortions past seven weeks and distributing the pill by mail and without an in-person visit to a doctor’s office – restrictions that the 5th Circuit tried to reinstate.
It is important to note that the use of mifepristone and misoprostol is not the only protocol available for abortion care. In fact, the use of mifepristone is relatively new. Misoprostol used alone can safely and effectively end a pregnancy and has been used globally for generations. The Society for Family Planning put out comprehensive guidance on medication abortion using misoprostol only.
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We want to be very clear that no matter the outcome of this case, we will work to ensure affordable options for abortion. Abortion providers aren’t going anywhere and neither are we. We will never stop speaking out, showing up and caring for ourselves and our communities!
We cannot – and should not – allow an extremist judge in Texas or anywhere to deny access to mifepristone. We will do all we can to ensure that we can manage our own health and body and plan our own families and futures!