Abortion pills like mifepristone and misoprostol now account for nearly two-thirds of abortions involving a clinician|Robin Marty|CC BY 2.0
It has been three years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and now, medication abortion is at the center of the legal war over abortion rights in the US.
The court ended women’s constitutional right to abortion in June 2022 by overruling the 1973 decision. It aided several conservative states to legally ban the act.
Meanwhile, abortion pills like mifepristone and misoprostol now account for nearly two-thirds of abortions involving a clinician. They are flowing freely across state lines, thanks to telehealth and shield laws in blue states.
But the access is under fire, with several legal challenges from antiabortion activists in states including Texas and Louisiana.
The lawsuits are targeting providers who mail pills across state borders.
Some red states are even eyeing civil penalties for anyone who ships the drugs.
Despite the pressure, demand continues to rise. Telehealth networks are expanding rapidly, shipping pills for as little as $5.