A federal judge in Texas, US has ordered a hold on the longstanding approval of a widely used abortion drug, mifepristone.
- The pill has been allowed for over 20 years, and is used in most abortions.
- The duelling court orders make it likely that the issue will escalate to the US Supreme Court.
- In a 67-page opinion, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, halted the FDA’s approval of mifepristone.
- In his ruling, Judge Kacsmaryk said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval had violated federal rules that allow for accelerated approval of certain drugs.
- The FDA spent four years reviewing mifepristone before it was approved in 2000.
- The judge also said the FDA had failed to consider the “psychological effects” of mifepristone and its safety record.
