Abortion pill mifepristone is a "lifeline & key to healthier better future" says AG Rob Bonta
California Attorney General, Rob Bonta joins a coalition of 24 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case over abortion pill.
Texas judge suspends approval of medication abortion pill
Earlier this year a Texas judge issued a ruling that would have banned the use of the abortion pill mifepristone nationwide.
The judge found that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had not adequately followed the scientific evidence when it approved the drug in 2000.
The ruling was appealed and the case is now before the Supreme Court. The Court has agreed to hear the case on an expedited basis, and a decision is expected in 2024.
California Attorney General, Rob Bonta joined in filing an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case.
In the brief, the attorneys general argue that the FDA's approval of mifepristone was based on sound science and that banning the drug would have a devastating impact on women's access to abortion.
To millions of Americans, meaningful access to medication abortion serves as a lifeline, and a key to a healthier and better future. Medication abortion has been recognized for decades as exceedingly safe and effective — so safe that it presents a lower risk of serious complications than taking Tylenol, having a wisdom tooth removed, using Viagra, or getting a colonoscopy. - said Attorney General Bonta.
According to Bonta’s statement the amicus brief, argues that if allowed to take effect the ruling would:
-Jeopardize the health, safety, and financial well-being of many pregnant people, by disrupting access to medication abortion and interfering with miscarriage management;
-Deepen healthcare disparities by disproportionately impacting groups already underserved by the healthcare system, including people of color, low-income individuals, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals; and
-Add more stress to an already overwhelmed healthcare system by causing a drastic increase in pregnant patients forced to seek invasive procedures from hospitals and medical clinics already stretched thin.
"Medication abortion is a safe and effective medical procedure that is essential to reproductive healthcare," Bonta said in a statement. "I will do everything in my power to fight for the right of all people to access the care they need."
Bonta's efforts to protect medication abortion are part of a broader effort by California to protect reproductive rights.
In 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation which made California a sanctuary state for abortion. The legislation prohibits California from cooperating with other states that are trying to enforce anti-abortion laws.
Newsom signs 13 abortion protection and reproductive health bills
Newsom signed a package of bills that expanded abortion access and strengthened protections for abortion providers.
The Supreme Court's decision in the Texas case could have a major impact on access to abortion across the United States. If the Court upholds the Texas ruling, it could lead to a nationwide ban on mifepristone.