Neronha joins attorney generals nationwide against decision to block medication abortion

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Attorney General Peter Neronha joined a multi-state coalition to fight back against a decision that could restrict medication abortion access nationwide.

The decision comes from the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Texas that would undo the more than 20-year-old approval of the abortion drug, mifepristone by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

On April 7, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ordered the FDA to stay its approval of mifepristone, which was federally approved in 2000.

Officials said order does not take effect immediately, as the district court put its ruling on hold for seven days to give the federal government and the drug manufacturer an opportunity to appeal.

Neronha and the coalition of 23 other attorney generals are warning that revoking federal approval for mifepristone will drastically reduce access to safe abortion care and miscarriage management for millions of women across the country.

“At a time when a woman’s right to choose, and access to safe abortion, is under assault across the country, it is more important than ever for our Office to take action to ensure that reproductive rights are protected,” Attorney General Neronha said.

“This is exactly what we did when we joined with 17 other states in the lawsuit filed in Washington to protect access to safe medical abortion. A continued stay of this ruling would ensure continued and unfettered access to mifepristone in Rhode Island, a drug that has been approved by the FDA for over 20 years and taken safely by more than five million Americans,” he continued.

According to current estimates, medication abortion accounts for approximately 54%  of all abortions performed in the United States.

Attorney General Neronha said by obstructing access to mifepristone, a rise in possibly unsafe procedural abortions which can be more complicated and costly for many paitents.

Neronha was joined in filing today’s amicus brief are the attorneys generals of the following states:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Hawai‘i
• Illinois
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Vermont
• Washington
• Wisconsin
• District of Columbia