Appeals court keeps some limits on mifepristone

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday removed some lower court limits on the abortion drug mifepristone while leaving some restrictions in place. The appellate judges acknowledged their ruling wouldn’t have any practical effect because the U.S. Supreme Court already suspended the lower court’s temporary limits on the drug. The case will likely make its way to the Supreme Court for a final decision.

What is this case about? Several doctors and medical associations filed a suit against the Food and Drug Administration, saying it overlooked some of the risks of mifepristone before it approved it for use in 2000. The doctors also took issue with new rules in 2016 loosening restrictions on the drug, as well as other regulatory changes in 2019 and 2021. Drug-induced abortions account for more than half of abortions in the United States.

Dig deeper: Read Addie Offereins’ report in WORLD Magazine about pro-life efforts to save babies from mifepristone.