Hamilton celebrates rare victory for reproductive healthcare
Today, the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously ruled to uphold the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the drug Mifepristone which is commonly used for abortion and miscarriage management. In the case Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, anti-abortion groups challenged the FDA’s approval and regulation of the drug and sought to make it unavailable in states even where abortion is legal. This is the first abortion ruling from SCOTUS since the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement:
“Today is a rare victory for reproductive freedom and healthcare across the nation, but the fight for women's reproductive freedom is not over – especially in Indiana. For years, mifepristone has been reaffirmed as safe by the FDA. I'm relieved to see SCOTUS made a decision that will protect access to this medication crucial to the health and safety of women.
“Mifepristone is widely used for miscarriage management as half of the recommended two-drug protocol. Miscarriage is a very real concern for women trying to start a family; according to Mayo Clinic, up to 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriages. Without access to the full recommended treatment, taking the second drug alone could result in the tragic and painful experience of having a miscarriage last for months.
“While we can let out a collective sigh of relief after today’s ruling, this fight is far from over. The Supreme Court rejected this lawsuit on the ground that the plaintiffs lacked standing, which leaves the possibility for future challenges to be brought against this essential medication.
“Women have a right to access the best available medical treatment. In the 2022 special session that resulted in Indiana’s near-total abortion ban, we heard firsthand from licensed medical professionals about the danger of trying to legislate what healthcare women can access. The crusade against mifepristone is based on radical ideology, not science. This is yet another example of lawmakers trying to play doctor and interfere in the personal medical and family planning decisions of women.
“Just this past session, a bill was introduced in the Indiana State Senate to prohibit the prescription or possession of any drug that may be used for an abortion. Thankfully, this bill was unsuccessful, but Democrats in the General Assembly remain vigilant in our fight to protect women's' reproductive health and freedom.”