As Supreme Court hears Mifepristone abortion drug case providers weigh possible outcomes
DELMARVA – As the Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments this week on the FDA approval for at-home abortion drug mifepristone, Planned Parenthoods in Maryland and Delaware say they are unclear on just how far a decision could go.
“This case, It’s politically motivated, and it’s going to mess around with people who need Mifepristone for a variety of reasons, not just abortion care, and on top of that, who knows what’s next,” said Planned Parenthood Maryland Director Karen J. Nelson, who says she believes an all-out ban of the drug is on the table.
“There could be a seven-week ban, there could be an outright ban, we’re not sure, I think all of this is risky, I think it’s playing games with people’s health
She says while alternatives to the drugs exist, patients should not have to go for a less effective treatment.
“Why should patients use alternatives, this option has been tried and tested for 40 years,” she said.
On the Delaware side, Planned Parenthood Delaware says they do not believe there will be a total ban, but rather a requirement for treatment to be done at a doctor’s office, rather than a pure telemedicine model that has been made popular for mifepristone since the rollback of Roe V. Wade.
“Currently patients can take their Mifepristone at home, this ruling would change that and make it more onerous for people, they would have to do it under under supervision, which is not medically necessary,” said PPDE Spokeswoman Mara Gorman.
But both groups say that any additional restriction will prevent access for low-income and marginalized groups.
On the Eastern Shore, only one Planned Parenthood exists on the Maryland side in Easton, with Georgetown and Wilmington locations on the Delaware side.
Statewide Nelson tells 47ABC that few counties in Maryland have their clinic, and an in-person mandate could result in a service backlog.
“It’s the people that are always affected. When you put restrictions and you put barriers to care, it is folks in the rural communities, it’s folks with transportation issues, it’s persons of color,” Nelson said.
Political Science Professor at Delaware State University Dr. Sam Hoff says it’s the latest case where the court is undermining federal agencies, citing a future case on the court’s docket that could formally revoke the ability of cabinet-level agencies to enforce and decide federal regulations and could threaten to overturn a longstanding precedent.
“We have a supermajority court, 6 to 3. Number two, having some further restrictions would be consistent with the direction they’ve gone since overturning Roe,” Dr Hoff said adding “but this is contrary to previous decisions and the ideology of conservatism which believes in a federal supremacy.”
Both Planned Parenthood organizations plan to picket the court Tuesday as arguments are set to begin, as both praise their respective states for enshrining abortion protections into state law.
