The pill, which was originally approved in 2000, blocks a hormone needed for a pregnancy to continue and is meant for usage through ten weeks gestation. Following the Texas ruling, an appeal will likely be brought up to the next court level.
(Cathren Cohen, Scholar of Law and Policy @UCLA) Speaker 2: [00:01:04] So the FDA and the Biden administration representing the FDA is probably going to appeal this case to the Fifth Circuit, which is the next level Circuit Court of Appeals. That court will then have the opportunity to rule and they could decide to stay the decision while they decide. So it could be possible that they agree to take this case and nothing changes for even longer. [00:01:25][20.8]
That was Cathren Cohen, a Scholar of Law and Policy with the Center on Reproductive Health, Law and Policy. While it’s possible that the ruling could be brought all the way up to the Supreme Court, Cohen says the decision is unlikely to be made anytime soon.
Speaker 2: [00:01:25] folks are already talking about this being appealed potentially up to the Supreme Court. You know, typically that process takes several years, but the court could choose to kind of expedite that review, take the case without full briefing, but it would still take, you know, several weeks, if not months, for us to see something from the Supreme Court. [00:01:44][18.9]
The decision is likely to be appealed, but Planned Parenthood Public Affairs and Community Relations Manager, Claudia Powell guarantees that women can still find help in Los Angeles.
Speaker 2: [00:01:08] But in the meantime, we’re here to serve the community with the services that they need, abortion services and all the options that women have. [00:01:48][39.5]
The drug isn’t just prescribed by OB-GYNs for terminating early pregnancies, but also to make second-trimester surgical procedures safer. With such an important drug on the line, Planned Parenthood is mobilizing authorities in Los Angeles to make sure women still have access to abortion care.
Speaker 2: [00:02:24] We got a commitment this morning with the meet with the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass. She was here with a press conference as well as Board of Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Lindsey Harper. So, you know, it’s incredible this commitment of of. People that are in public services. Did they know that woman can make a decision when it comes to their body? And we don’t need anyone else to make the decision for us? [00:02:56][31.9]
The Texas judge’s decision doesn’t just raise questions about abortion access, but also the FDA’s authority at large.
The ruling is sparking concerns among doctors and drug makers because of the idea that judges might now be emboldened to strike down long-time FDA approved drugs that have been proven safe and effective for years.
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