Planned Parenthood of Southern New England Responds to District Court Decision in Texas Mifepristone Case

Approval of Mifepristone is STILL Protected as of Now

New Haven, CT — Late yesterday, a federal judge in Texas in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine et al v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration et al blocked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of mifepristone, threatening the 22-year approval of one of two medications used in the most common medication abortion regimen in the United States. However, the judge also stayed the decision to give the federal government seven days to seek relief on appeal, which means that for now, approval of mifepristone remains protected in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

In a separate ruling, a federal judge in Washington issued a preliminary injunction in a mifepristone case brought by 18 Attorneys General, including Connecticut’s Attorney General William Tong and Rhode Island’s Attorney General Peter Neronha. While much remains unclear on the effects of these two rulings, for now, approval of mifepristone remains protected.

Statement from Amanda Skinner, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England

“The ruling from Texas could severely undermine access to abortion in Connecticut and Rhode Island, access that the people of Connecticut and Rhode Island have made clear is necessary. Anti-abortion activists are not satisfied with overturning Roe v. Wade or allowing states to ban abortion — they want to strip Connecticut and Rhode Island residents and people nationwide of their rights. We are grateful to Attorneys General Tong and Neronha for joining a separate case that won its preliminary injunction yesterday.  While access remains protected for now, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England will continue to do everything possible to provide patients with timely abortion care, including the method that is best for their circumstances.”

Medication abortion, often called the "abortion pill," allows people a more private option to end an early pregnancy — at home or wherever they feel most comfortable, while still getting necessary medical support and information. Medication abortions make up roughly half of all abortions in the U.S.  They allow patients to manage their abortion safely, on their own terms, and has helped improve and expand access to abortion care.

Learn more about medication abortion here. For more information about options and a state-by-state guide to get care, go to AbortionFinder.org or call 1-800-230-PLAN.

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Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) is one of the region’s largest providers of sexual and reproductive health care services. Since 1923, PPSNE has evolved into an organization with 15 health centers in Connecticut and Rhode Island, delivering care to nearly 60,000 patients annually. For 100 years, PPSNE health centers have provided a broad range of services, sexual health education, information, and health counseling. PPSNE’s works towards fulfilling the vision of a just society where sexual and reproductive rights are basic human rights, where health care is equitable and accessible to all, and where each person lives their healthiest life.