Revoking Abortion Access Post Roe v. Wade and the Scary Impact in 2024
Via danilo.alvesd
Written By
London Allen
January 19, 2024
In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court shocked citizens across the nation when it ruled to overturn Roe V. Wade. Since the Court’s decision, limited access to abortions across the nation has been harmful to many people—especially in states that have banned the procedure altogether. In 2024, some states are taking it one step further and attempting to limit access nationwide.
The states that have banned abortions have made it almost impossible for people to receive the care they deserve. The decision to enforce bans has forced many to have to travel to different states to receive abortion care. One intense case is that of Kate Cox, a 31-year-old woman in Texas. Following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, Texas has implemented some of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the U.S. Cox faced complications with her pregnancy that could jeopardize her future fertility; still, the state of Texas refused to issue a medical exception for an abortion. Luckily, Cox had the resources to travel to another state to receive care. This is a common, but privileged, resolution as many people don’t have the resources to travel for abortion care. As a result, restricted access to abortions is largely impacting already marginalized communities.
While certain Republican states like Texas are already restricting abortion access and further harming communities, two cases being reviewed by the Supreme Court could assist in limiting abortion access in all states. Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and Danco Laboratories, L.L.C. v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine are two cases brought forth by the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine challenging the FDA’s approval and regulation of the abortion-inducing drug mifepristone. Unsurprisingly, the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine is a Christian organization that states in its EssentialHippocratic Oath, “I will not help a woman obtain an abortion. In purity and holiness I will maintain the utmost respect for human life from the moment of fertilization until the moment of natural death.” This biased perspective has led the organization to take questionably delayed action in the courts that could limit access to others.
“White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. ‘This Administration will continue to stand by FDA’s independent approval and regulation of mifepristone as safe and effective.’”
There are several methods of inducing or performing an abortion. One method people may choose is taking an abortion pill. According to Planned Parenthood, this method refers to, “using two different medicines to end a pregnancy: mifepristone and misoprostol.” Mifepristone is a drug first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000 which has become increasingly more accessible for use for abortion in recent years—especially as it can be shipped in the mail. The drug “blocks a hormone called progesterone that is needed for a pregnancy to continue” and research shows it is safer than Tylenol. Unfortunately, emboldened anti-abortion doctors seek not only to limit access to abortions but also the drugs that perform them by claiming, over two decades later, that mifepristone is unsafe. A White House spokesperson states that the final decision, "threatens to undermine the FDA's scientific, independent judgment and would reimpose outdated restrictions on access to safe and effective medication abortion."
A resolution is not anticipated until mid-2024, right before the elections begin. As the case develops, a Texas judge recently ruled that other states may intervene in the lawsuit as well, leading to more Republican states getting involved. The decision in this case, like the overturn of Roe v. Wade imposes a high threat to abortion access across the nation. As one of the most popular and accessible methods of abortion, the pill is essential for abortion care. Please check out the sources below for more in-depth information on the case and remember that advocating for abortions, voting in elections, and supporting organizations that provide relevant resources is the best way to destigmatize abortions and ensure everyone gets the care they deserve.
Written by: London Allen
About the Author:
London is the editorial department head and they enjoy writing about trending social issues in politics.
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Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2023/12/21/1221040446/what-the-current-landscape-of-abortion-rights-looks-like-going-into-2024
https://www.scotusblog.com/2023/12/justices-will-review-lower-court-ruling-on-access-to-abortion-pill/
https://www.npr.org/2023/12/13/1218332935/mifepristone-abortion-pill-supreme-court
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/the-abortion-pill
https://reproductiverights.org/case/alliance-for-hippocratic-medicine-v-fda/
https://www.americanprogress.org/article/alliance-for-hippocratic-medicine-v-fda-legal-standing-and-the-impact-on-abortion-access/
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