Judge Maintains FDA Abortion Pill Access in Certain States (2)

The FDA’s safety limits on the abortion pill will remain in place at least temporarily in 17 states and Washington, D.C., while a federal judge in Washington state considers a final decision on a Democratic state-led challenge to the restrictions.

Judge Thomas O. Rice of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Washington ruled Friday that it was unclear whether the states, led by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D), are likely to succeed in arguing that the Food and Drug Administration’s restrictions on mifepristone are overly burdensome and not based in science.

The ruling marks a blow ...