Disappointment & a Reason to Pray

North Carolina Right to Life expresses deep disappointment in today’s decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to temporarily block the May 1 ruling of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which sought to restore critical safety protocols governing the dispensing of mifepristone. This temporary “administrative stay,” set to run through May 11, is not a final ruling on the merits.

The Fifth Circuit’s decision was a measured and medically responsible step to reinstate longstanding safeguards that protected women from preventable harm, including in-person physician oversight, screening for contraindications such as ectopic pregnancy, and structured follow-up care. The removal of these protections has prioritized access over patient safety, a tradeoff that is both reckless and indefensible.

By blocking the ruling, even temporarily, the Supreme Court has allowed continued distribution of a powerful drug under a relaxed framework lacking appropriate medical oversight. This is especially concerning given growing evidence of complications. An April 2025 Ethics and Public Policy Center analysis found a 10.7% complication rate, including ER visits, hemorrhage, sepsis, and incomplete abortions, compared to sub-1% rates in the drug’s original labeling, raising serious concerns about current safety standards and reporting.

Serious concerns also remain about the FDA’s original approval pathway. The FDA used an accelerated approval framework intended for serious or life-threatening conditions, effectively categorizing pregnancy as such that allowed mifepristone to qualify, under pressure from the Clinton Administration. This approach remains highly controversial and underscores the need for greater scrutiny and accountability.

“Today’s action is a setback for women’s health, for basic medical accountability, and for the preborn baby,” said Dr. Bill Pincus, President of North Carolina Right to Life. “Medications with known risks should be subject to appropriate safeguards. That is standard practice in medicine. Mifepristone should not be treated as an exception. And how can abortion be healthcare when one of the patients, a preborn baby, dies?”

The Fifth Circuit’s ruling was not an outright ban. It restored common-sense protections that had been in place for years and were grounded in patient safety. The Supreme Court’s decision delays those protections at a time when they are needed most.

North Carolina Right to Life remains committed to policies that protect both women and unborn children and urges the Court to fully consider the medical evidence and real-world consequences of deregulating abortion drugs.

About North Carolina Right to LifeNorth Carolina Right to Life is dedicated to protecting the sanctity of human life through education, advocacy, and public policy efforts across the state.