North Birmingham Times

WASHINGTON—The United States Fifth Circuit Court issued a decision in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA which effectively requires the FDA to reinstate a regulatory structure of safeguards for women’s health in usage of mifepristone for chemical abortions.  The Biden Administration’s Justice Department has announced that it would appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. 

Members of the House Values Action Team – many of whom were signatories on an amicus brief before the court -- applauded the decision:

Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Chairman of House Values Action Team, said: “Democratic administrations recklessly approved and then further deregulated a dangerous drug. The Fifth Circuit Court’s decision directly responds to the unlawfulness of those efforts—by reverting to the pre-2016 regulatory structure which limits gestational age for chemical abortions, requires three in-person visits with a physician, and prohibits mifepristone to be dispensed through mail.  The court said that the FDA’s actions have been “arbitrary and capricious” – this is simply not acceptable when women’s lives are on the line.

“The Fifth Circuit acted to uphold the laws which the Food and Drug Administration continually ignored,” continued Aderholt. “The FDA is charged with the purpose of ‘protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security’ of drugs, but judicial review identified the failure of the FDA to protect women and girls with respect to the chemical abortion drug.”

Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), who led the Member Brief, added: “The FDA’s decision to approve the sale and use of dangerous chemical abortion drugs without proper in-person medical evaluation and oversight was a huge mistake, and reversing this rule is a significant win in protecting the safety of women. I am proud to partner with the Values Action Team in fighting for the lives of the unborn and the safety of their mothers,” said Pfluger.

“I applaud the Court’s decision to reinstate safeguards on this dangerous drug,” said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) who is a pharmacist. “The end of mail-order and at-home abortions at the hands of non-physician practitioners is merely the beginning of our fight to ensure that all life is protected.”

Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15) said: “The court decision blocking dangerous at-home abortion pills is an important step in exposing the cruel chemical abortion industry, which is preying upon young women. The FDA is ignoring the horror stories and serious side effects of these drugs.”

Congressman Michael Burgess (TX-26) said: "I commend the decision made today by the Fifth Circuit panel to prohibit unsupervised access to the dangerous abortion pill, mifepristone. I served as an OB/GYN for almost 30 years, and firmly believe that no medication should be given to patients without a physician's supervision. Mifepristone carries major life-threatening risks, and it is long overdue to reinstate safeguards on its dispensing. This is a victory for patients, both born and unborn, and for everyone who values the sanctity of life,” said Burgess.

Congressman Mike Johnson (LA-04): “This is a welcomed decision from the 5th Circuit. In pursuit of unrestricted abortion access, the FDA eschewed normal safeguards on these dangerous drugs, putting the safety of women at risk. We hope that the Supreme Court acts decisively and upholds the 5th Circuit decision to end mail-order abortions and reinstitute the pre-2016 safeguards,” said Johnson.

Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14): "The FDA's blatant disregard for women and girls' safety and health is unacceptable. Chemical abortion drugs are extremely dangerous and should never be administered through mail-order. I applaud the Fifth Circuit's decision to hold the FDA accountable," said Weber.

“This amicus is important to me because abortion is not healthcare, pregnancy is not an illness, and these pills do not save lives. Abortion is used to terminate one in every five pregnancies in the U.S. and is almost entirely an elective process. What's worse, the chemical abortion drug approval process relied on the FDA categorizing pregnancy as an illness with which there was no other viable ‘cure.’ These pills ruin the lives of women and girls by forcing them into extreme emotional distress that leads to mental illness and the death of their child. I will not stand by and watch our nation treat pregnancy as an illness, children as expendable, and promote a process that leaves women shattered and emotionally vulnerable,” said Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05).

Original source can be found here.