Federal appeals court ruling allows 'medication abortion' in Texas while legal challenge continues

CNN ^ | April 14, 2020 | Ariane de Vogue, CNN Supreme Court Reporter

[Morgana]

(CNN)A federal appeals court late Monday night ruled in favor of supporters of abortion rights and allowed an abortion procedure called "medication abortion" to be used in Texas while an ongoing legal challenge continues.

The order by the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals is the latest development in a lawsuit that has been bouncing between federal courts in Texas, causing chaos on the ground for clinics and patients in the state. Monday's ruling is temporary, but it could stall or maybe even avert a potential Supreme Court showdown over the issue.

The controversy began last month when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order that was interpreted to restrict abortion access in the state, citing a need to preserve personal protective equipment during the pandemic.

Supporters of abortion rights challenged the scope of Abbott's order in court, triggering a legal battle that went back and forth between a district court judge who initially blocked the executive order as it applied to abortion access and a federal appeals court that twice reversed the district court judge.

The latest salvo came Monday night when the appeals court said it would deny a request from Texas to block medication abortions, a procedure where a patient takes two pills, which is often performed early in a pregnancy. Abortion providers say that no PPE is used for a medication abortion.

[Morgana]

FReepers not only is this pill dangerous but does not always work the later the pregnancy is and a surgical abortion has to be done as well

[Morgana]

also Freepers I can’t remember so some of you help me out but seems to me that the FDA has not approved of certain abortion pill drugs

Mrs dono?

[Mrs. Don-o]

According to the FDA (2016) mifeprex (sp?) is safe and effective when used to terminate a pregnancy in a regimen with misoprostol, to end a pregnancy through 70 days gestation (70 days or less since the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period).

I don’t think the FDA requires a sonogram or an actual physical exam to determine the gestational date. That might vary from state to state -— I don’t know.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

I really pray this Covid-19 ordeal actually opens complacent eyes to the sins within ourselves we need to repent from, yes, but also those of our land that invite God’s righteous judgment. We are so numb to abortion. :(

[Morgana]

“I don’t think the FDA requires a sonogram or an actual physical exam to determine the gestational date. That might vary from state to state -— I don’t know.”

It does not work and is very dangerous for an ectopic pregnancy. They would almost have to do an ultra sound.

[Morgana]

So so I

[Mrs. Don-o]

Yeah, if they were sincerely concerned about women's health, they would have to insist on an actual, physical examination and ultrasound. But that has never been their priority.

And you're right: in the case of an ectopic pregnancy, an attempted medical (pill) abortion could end up with a fallopian tube rupture fatal to the mother.