Battle for women’s reproductive rights
Women and reproductive rights advocates felt a blow this past Friday as a federal judge in Texas put a hold on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug Mifepristone.
“The FDA omitted any evaluation of the psychological effects of the drug or an evaluation of the long-term medical consequences of the drug.” U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacmaryk ruled in explaining why he placed the hold on the drug. The drug is an abortion medication women have used in the United States since 2000. The ruling was met with quick reactions as the Biden administration appealed the hold with a federal judge in Washington state issuing a contradictory ruling ordering the FDA to continue selling the pill to women.
The halt of the drug presents a problem nationwide because if approved, it can stop the selling of the pill even in states like California and anywhere else abortions are legal. Sue Dunlap, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles released a statement on the Texas ruling:
“This decision is an outright attack on our rights and our ability to make decisions about our futures,” Dunlap said as she expressed her frustration. “ It is an attack on patients seeking care, abortions are essential to healthcare, and we remain committed to ensuring our patients have access to the services they need.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also offered her support for appealing the verdict on the abortion pill.” When judges bypass the opinions of scientists and medical professionals, lives are put at risk.” Bass said as she expressed how Los Angeles would respond. “ This ruling is yet another attack on the rights of women across this country, but we cannot allow this ruling to cause us despair, it must drive us to take action. As long as I serve as mayor, I will do all I can to ensure that Los Angeles remains a haven for women seeking abortion care and reproductive freedom.”
Other local leaders like Los Angeles County supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and Lindsey P. Horvath echoed similar advice of Los Angeles being a haven for women and their reproductive rights, and advocates should not feel defeated but instead be happy as Los Angeles is supporting them and will continue to support the fight for reproductive justice.
Gov. Gavin Newsom gave his views on the ruling and how California as a state will conduct itself. “Today's ruling, by an extremist judge pursuing a radical political agenda, ignores facts, science, and the law putting the health of millions of women and girls at risk. Newsom said as he talked about California's stance on abortions. “ Abortions is still legal and accessible here in California, and we won't stand by as fundamental freedoms are stripped away.”
The ruling won't go into effect for seven days, but with the dual rulings, the Supreme Court will ultimately become involved, which could make the process lengthy until the court decides to uphold or dismiss the hold.
