“The regimen that the FDA has currently approved is inherently dangerous because it allows a woman to self-administer and induce labor and delivery, in an abortion context, in her home, in her bathroom, in her dorm room, in a hotel room without any medical supervision,” Baptist told CNA.
“It’s inherently going to create a situation where there’s going to be potential for life-threatening infections, severe hemorrhaging, and bleeding … Therefore, it’s an inherently dangerous drug,” he said.
“This case is focused on protecting the health, welfare, and safety of women and girls who take chemical abortions because the FDA failed to follow the science and follow the law when approving and taking away basic protections for women and girls who do take these drugs,” Baptist said.
If Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, rules against the FDA, the administration could be forced to rescind its approval of the drug, bringing its legal distribution to a halt across the country, even in states where abortion remains legal.
Mifepristone is the first of two drugs used in chemical abortions, which account for 53% of all abortions in the country, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
The drug works by cutting off nutrients necessary for a fetus to continue developing. A second drug, misoprostol, is then ingested 24 to 48 hours later and induces contractions that expel the dead unborn child.
