FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Friday, April 7, 2023
Contact:
Jocelyn Foye, Executive Director of The Womxn Project
[email protected]
401-400-0061
Tough Fight Ahead after Initial Mifepristone Ruling
TWP commits to advocate for all people to receive the care they need, here in our state and nationally -community care for all.
[Providence, RI] – Statement from The Womxn Project’s Executive Director, on competing rulings in cases around accessing mifepristone and the FDA approval of the medication that has been around for more than two decades. Mifepristone is one of two medications most commonly used in medication abortion:
“Earlier today, a federal judge in Texas said he will suspend the FDA’s two-decade-old approval of mifepristone— giving the F.D.A only seven days to appeal before this defacto ban goes into effect. Separately in another case brought in federal court in Washington state, another judge issued a contradictory ruling holding that a nationwide injunction blocking mifepristone’s distribution would be ‘inappropriate.’
Mifepristone was first approved by the FDA more than 20 years ago, and has since been used by more than five million people to safely end their pregnancies! Medication abortion or abortion using pills is extremely safe. Serious complications occur in less than one-third of one percent (0.31%) of medication abortions. Abortion using pills is highly effective with a success rate over 95%. In this time when it is more and more difficult to access abortions it is also a crucial piece of access.
Mifepristone is used in more than half of abortion procedures nationwide, and taking it off the market would significantly compromise abortion access across the country. Mifepristone has helped ensure that patients are able to make their own private medical decisions, and it has expanded access to reproductive health care — something that is very clearly under threat in this country.
Everyone should have the ability to make decisions about their own reproductive lives and futures, including choosing the method of abortion that works best for their circumstances. We must be clear that abortion is still legal in all the places it had already been permitted, even though this judge is trying to put up needless barriers to accessing mifepristone.
For now there is no change to access, but that could change in days as this case continues. No one should have to wonder day to day if they can get abortions or what new and insidious obstacle will be created. We will never stop doing all we can to make sure WE control our health decisions, our bodies, and our futures.
The laws and the courts don’t keep us safe; we do. Regardless of this ruling, people will always self-manage abortions and support each other in self-managing safely and on their own terms. We will continue to speak out and show up to do all we can to ensure that when someone needs an abortion that they can get it with compassion and without judgment or barriers.”
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Jocelyn Foye is available for interview upon request.