The abortion pill Mifepristone can still be prescribed online and received by mail in the USA – without a mandatory personal visit to the doctor.
May 15, 2026, 06:24May 15, 2026, 06:24
The Supreme Court decided on Thursday to initially maintain access to the drug by mail order – suspending restrictions from a lower court while the legal process over the drug continues. Manufacturers of the drug had previously appealed to the Supreme Court in an urgent procedure and warned of significant effects on supply.
The abortion pill Mifepristone.Image: keystone
Earlier this month, a federal appeals court temporarily severely restricted access to abortion pills by mail. A panel of judges in New Orleans suspended a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation that had allowed mifepristone to be shipped via telemedicine prescription. The background was a lawsuit by the Republican-governed US state of Louisiana, which argued that the regulations undermined its almost complete ban on abortion.
The appeal court’s decision would mean that providers would initially only be allowed to hand out the drug in person in clinics or doctor’s offices. However, an order from the Supreme Court temporarily suspended this restriction last week. With this Thursday’s decision, it remains that way for now.
The practice, which is still permitted, has developed into one of the most important ways of terminating pregnancies in the USA in recent years. With the landmark ruling Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court established a nationwide right to abortion in 1973. However, this was overturned in 2022, allowing states to issue their own, sometimes very strict, bans. As a result, telemedicine prescriptions with subsequent delivery by post became increasingly important. Mifepristone is now used in the majority of abortions in the United States. (sda/dpa)