The Supreme Court Decision on Mifepristone: A Win for Reproductive Justice, But Maybe Not for Long – Health Care in Motion

The Supreme Court of the United States’ term is wrapping up this month, and, as is custom, they are announcing the decisions in their most controversial cases at the end. The much-anticipated decision on access to mifepristone – a drug that in combination with another medication, misoprostol, has long been prescribed to end a pregnancy – was no exception, with the Supreme Court issuing its decision in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) vs. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine on June 13, 2024. In a unanimous ruling, the Court rejected a challenge from plaintiffs who had argued the FDA had improperly approved and then expanded access to mifepristone. This decision bears directly on the continued safe and legal access to medication abortion, which can be used in the comfort and safety of a pregnant person’s home. Although this ruling was a win for reproductive justice and health care access advocates, the case raises legal issues that are far from resolved—read on to learn why.

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