HARTFORD, Conn — The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday announced its unanimous ruling that preserves access to medication that is commonly used in abortions.
The justices ruled that in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, abortion opponents lacked the legal right to sue over the federal Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the medication, mifepristone, and the FDA's subsequent actions to ease access to it.
This is the court’s first abortion decision since conservative justices overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago.
Many of Connecticut's have vowed to protect access to health care and access to abortion and contraceptive care. Now, they're reacting to the Supreme Court's latest ruling.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont released a statement, applauding the ruling and noting that issue that was brought to the Supreme Court was "nothing more than a politically motivated attempt to restrict the ability of Americans to make their own family planning decisions."
“This case was never about safety, it was about controlling peoples’ medical decisions and their ability to decide when they should start a family. But we must recognize that this will not be the last attempt by politicians to interfere in reproductive healthcare. As long as I am in office, I will use every tool in my power to fight for the ability of patients and their doctors to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions,” Lamont said.
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Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz also released a statement, regarding the ruling as a "sigh of relief."
"Removing access to the medication or reinstating outdated and medically unnecessary restrictions on mifepristone would have been a devastating blow to accessing safe abortions and miscarriage management – especially for those in our most vulnerable populations – our communities of color, indigenous communities, and rural areas," Bysiewicz said. "While today’s decision is good news, we must remain vigilant as the Supreme Court has left the door open for other plaintiffs, who may allege harm, to bring similar actions. Further, the Supreme Court, federal courts, and state legislatures across the country continue to take actions to severely restrict women’s access to reproductive healthcare. In the face of these dangerous and all-out attacks on the right to access essential healthcare, Governor Lamont and I remain committed to protecting our patients and providers.”
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy said in a statement:
“The Supreme Court made the right call today to throw out this case that was bogus from the start. Mifepristone is a safe, effective drug approved by the FDA more than 20 years ago, and the extremist right wing is hellbent on banning it as part of their plan to enact a national abortion ban. While mifepristone can stay on the market for now, it’s concerning that today’s decision leaves the door open for future cases that could limit or ban access to a medication that has become even more essential as red states have passed draconian abortion bans. Congress must act to protect women’s health and the right to make decisions about their own bodies.”
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) is "pleased" with the unanimous ruling.
"This decision upholds the integrity of the FDA’s approval process and protects access to a safe healthcare option. The FDA approved mifepristone as safe and effective over 20 years ago, and those attacking access to the drug do not have standing in this case because of their own personal beliefs," DeLauro said. "Women’s dignity must be respected, and we must allow them to make their own healthcare decisions. I am glad that mifepristone – which is used in more than half of abortions in the U.S. and for 98% of medication abortions – will remain available for now. However, we must remain vigilant as I have no doubt anti-choice opponents will not stop until they ban abortion in the United States."
Attorney General William Tong released a statement, saying:
“Medication abortion is safe, legal and accessible in Connecticut. That was true before today, and following this decision, it will stay that way. But let’s not think for one second that this threat is going away. Anti-choice radicals are combing this decision as we speak and have already started the process of coming back with new plaintiffs. We will fight back at every single step along the way to protect the rights of patients and providers to live their lives and do their jobs free from extremist political micromanagement.”
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