Amy Bryant, an OB-GYN at UNC Health, has taken legal action against the state of North Carolina over restrictions on the abortion pill, mifepristone. In her lawsuit, filed on January 25th, Dr. Bryant argues that the state’s restrictions violate Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines.
Change in Policy Following Roe v. Wade Ruling
Previously, mifepristone could be prescribed by healthcare providers and dispensed at local pharmacies. However, after the Roe v. Wade ruling was overturned, North Carolina introduced new requirements that patients receive the drug in person at a clinic after a mandatory counseling session and a 72-hour waiting period.
Not an Isolated Incident
Dr. Bryant’s lawsuit is one of several similar cases being pursued across the country. On the same day that her lawsuit was filed, a drug company in West Virginia also initiated legal action on this issue.
Additionally, a federal lawsuit is currently underway in Texas, challenging the FDA’s approval of mifepristone. This case could result in the drug being taken off the market nationwide and a decision is expected to be reached soon.
The legal battle over restrictions on the abortion pill, mifepristone, continues as UNC doctor Amy Bryant sues North Carolina. The lawsuit, one of several similar cases across the country, argues that the state’s restrictions violate FDA guidelines and follows the overturning of the Roe v. Wade ruling.
The outcome of this case, as well as a federal lawsuit in Texas, could have significant implications for the availability of mifepristone nationwide.