abortion pills

North Carolina lawmakers appeal judge's decision blocking abortion-pill restrictions

8:07am June 24, 2024

North Carolina Republican legislative leaders are appealing portions of a federal judge's order this month that blocked several state laws that restrict how abortion pills can be dispensed.

Federal judge blocks some rules on abortion pills in North Carolina

11:23am June 05, 2024

by Associated Press

A federal judge has permanently blocked some efforts in North Carolina to restrict how abortion pills can be dispensed.

Packages of mifepristone tablets are displayed at a family planning clinic on April 13, 2023 in Rockville, Md.

Politics & Government

Why anti-abortion advocates are reviving a 19th century sexual purity law

4:11pm April 10, 2024

by Danielle Kurtzleben

The Comstock Act is the latest front in the fight over reproductive rights. Here's what you need to know about the 1873 law and the consequences if it's enforced the way some conservatives would like.

The Supreme Court of the United States building is seen in Washington, D.C., on March 15, 2024.

Politics & Government

A Supreme Court abortion pill case with potential consequences for every other drug

12:30pm March 26, 2024

by Nina Totenberg

At issue is the FDA's regulatory power to approve drugs and continually evaluate their safety — a system that until now has been widely viewed as the gold standard for both safety and innovation

Queue Listen Now

A patient prepares to take mifepristone, for a medication abortion. A federal appeals court ruled to impose new restrictions on the drug Wednesday but the ruling will not take effect until the Supreme Court weighs in.

Ruling deals blow to access to abortion pill mifepristone — but nothing changes yet

7:19pm August 16, 2023

A federal appeals court would restrict the use of mifepristone, a pill used in medication abortions. But previous action by the Supreme Court means the status quo holds for now.

On Wednesday, a federal appeals court heard arguments over access to mifepristone, a drug commonly used in a two-pill regimen to provide abortion and miscarriage care.

Health & Safety

The abortion pill mifepristone has another day in federal court

6:10pm May 17, 2023

by Becky Sullivan

While a Supreme Court order continues to ensure the drug is still widely available, the issue returned Wednesday to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals as lawyers for both sides urged the court to act.

Mifepristone was approved more than 20 years ago to induce first-trimester abortions in combination with a second drug, misoprostol.

With abortion pill access uncertain, 3 states strike deals to stock up

2:00pm April 10, 2023

by Sarah McCammon

California, Washington state and Massachusetts are stockpiling misoprostol and mifepristone, both of which are used in abortion regimens.

Mifepristone is one of two pills used in medication abortions and is used in the vast majority of such abortions in the United State.

Washington state stockpiles thousands of abortion pills

5:12pm April 04, 2023

by Sarah McCammon

Democratic state officials say they're ready to dispense thousands of mifepristone doses if access to the pill becomes difficult as a result of a pending federal lawsuit.

Abortion-rights supporters rally at the Texas State Capitol on Sept. 11, 2021 in Austin, Texas.

National

Texas man sues ex-wife's friends for allegedly helping her get abortion pills

3:13pm March 11, 2023

by Sarah McCammon

A wrongful death lawsuit filed by a Galveston County man accuses three women of helping his ex-wife obtain abortion pills used to terminate her pregnancy last year.

A Walgreens pharmacy is pictured on Jan. 5 in New York City. Walgreens says it won't sell mifepristone in states where Republican attorneys general threatened legal action.

Walgreens won't sell abortion pills in red states that threatened legal action

4:19pm March 04, 2023

The 20 states where Walgreens won't sell mifepristone include some where abortion remains legal. It's not clear whether other retail pharmacies will follow suit.