Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, has directed the FDA to review regulations on the abortion pill mifepristone citing “new data” from a flawed analysis used by anti-abortion groups to pressure reinstating restrictions or pulling the pill from the market. The controversial analysis, not peer-reviewed, suggests higher complication rates than known, drawing scrutiny for overstating adverse effects like ectopic pregnancies, which are not caused by mifepristone. Despite more than 100 studies affirming its safety, conservative groups are rallying behind the report, aiming to roll back access to mifepristone and potentially revoke its approval entirely.
Telemedicine and blue-state laws have facilitated abortion access, frustrating anti-abortion efforts. Activists plan to leverage the report to influence the FDA and lawmakers, pushing for restrictions on mifepristone. Despite criticism for lack of peer-review, anti-abortion leaders seek government action based on the report, aiming to limit access to the drug.
The Trump administration’s stance on a legal case regarding mifepristone remains ambiguous, leading to speculation about potential future restrictions. Proponents of reproductive rights express concern over efforts to restrict mifepristone based on what they call “manufactured misinformation”. The pushback against mifepristone reflects a longstanding battle over reproductive rights and access to safe medication for terminating pregnancies.
