The US government reacted strongly to the decision of a federal judge to revoke the license to sell on United States an abortion pill that was approved 20 years ago and used by half a million American women every year.

In announcing this new victory for the US anti-abortion camp, President Joe Biden he said he was determined to challenge the decision, calling it “an unprecedented attempt to deprive women of their fundamental freedoms”.

Immediately, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) appealed the decision to revoke the authorization to sell the abortion pill in a Texas court.

More than two decades ago, the FDA approved the pill “based on a full review of available scientific evidence and determined it was safe and effective for its intended use, early medical abortion,” the FDA recalled in a statement to US Media Information.

Ten months after the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that gave every US state the power to ban abortion on its territory, Judge Matthew Kasmaric, known for his deeply ultra-conservative views, delivered a decision Friday night in Texas that will apply nationwide. .

However, at the same time, his colleague in Washington state ruled that the marketing authorization for mifepristone (RU 486) used in combination with another drug could not be revoked in the 17 US Democratic states that appealed to his decision.

Soon the case will reach the Supreme Court, whose composition Donald Trump fatally transformed into an ultra-conservative judiciary.

In any event, Judge Kasmarik’s decision will not be enforced until a week has passed since the judge decided to give the federal government time to appeal his decision.

“The Justice Department strongly disagrees with this decision and will appeal and seek a stay,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

In his 67-page ruling, the Texas judge upheld most of the arguments put forward in the lawsuit filed in November against the FDA by a coalition of doctors and anti-abortion groups.

Although almost the entire scientific community has determined that the risks associated with the pills are negligible, the judge reiterates those risks in his decision and accuses the FDA of not following the pill’s licensing procedures to achieve a “political goal.”

“Extremist Judge”

Planned Parenthood called the decision “unprecedented and deeply discriminatory.” “Everyone should be outraged that a judge can unilaterally dismiss medical evidence” to challenge the FDA, said President Alexis McGill Johnson, noting that the decision could have implications beyond abortion.

US Vice President Kamala Harris also slammed the “unprecedented decision that threatens women’s rights across the country” and raised concerns about other drugs, cancer or diabetes.

Democrats in Congress opened fire on Judge Kasmaric: “an extremist judge,” said former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, “a bully judge,” her successor Hakim Jeffreys continued.

Matthew Kasmari was nominated by Donald Trump. He was legal counsel for a Christian organization before taking up the position of sole federal judge in Amarillo, Texas.

Enemies of abortion and women’s rights filed a lawsuit in this city, knowing that their case would be in good hands.

And yesterday they did not hide their joy. SBA Prolife America hailed “a win for the health and safety of women and girls.” Director of Political Affairs Cathy Glenn, speaking about the development of the case, said she hoped that “the dangerous disregard for the lives of women, shown by the FDA for two decades, will be corrected.”

Even if the court eventually revokes the FDA’s marketing authorization, it will take many months for the decision to be enforced. According to health experts, the drug regulatory authority must follow a strict procedure before withdrawing a marketing authorization for a drug.

Women and doctors can also turn to a second pill, misoprostol, which is now combined with mifepristone for greater effectiveness and less pain.

“We will not allow this unfair decision to block access to abortion pills, which can always reach your mailbox through alternative routes,” said Eliza Wells, founder of the Plan C Abortion Pill Awareness Network.

^{Source: APE-MEB, AFP.}