RismadarVoice Reporters, May 2, 2026
A U.S. federal appeals court on Friday ordered the reinstatement of a nationwide requirement that the abortion pill mifepristone be dispensed in person, effectively ending access to the medication through telehealth consultations and mail delivery while legal challenges proceed.
The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit came in response to a request from the state of Louisiana, which is contesting a pandemic-era policy change that expanded access to the drug. The ruling marks a significant setback for abortion rights advocates, who have relied on remote prescribing to maintain access in states where abortion has been restricted following the 2022 Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organisation.
Under the court’s order, patients must once again obtain mifepristone in person at certified health facilities, reversing a policy adopted by the Food and Drug Administration during the COVID-19 pandemic and made permanent in 2023. The FDA had previously concluded that the medication could be safely prescribed via telehealth and used at home.
Medication abortion, which typically involves a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, accounts for more than half of all abortions in the United States. Public health researchers and major medical organisations have consistently found the regimen to be safe and effective when administered following a clinical consultation.
In its opinion, the appeals court said Louisiana had demonstrated it was likely to succeed in its challenge and faced “irreparable harm” if the telehealth policy remained in place during litigation. Writing for the panel, Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan stated that the lower court had erred in declining to pause the regulation based on broader public interest considerations.
The legal dispute stems from a lawsuit filed by Louisiana officials, who argue that the FDA relied on insufficient data in loosening restrictions on the drug. A lower court had previously denied the state’s request to reinstate the in-person requirement, prompting the appeal.
Abortion rights advocates sharply criticised the ruling. Julia Kaye, a senior attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, stated that the decision would significantly hinder access to a medication that has been in use for over two decades. “This makes it much harder for patients across the country to obtain essential care,” she said in a statement.
Pharmaceutical manufacturer GenBioPro, which produces a generic version of mifepristone, also expressed concern, saying the court’s decision overlooked extensive scientific evidence supporting the drug’s safety.
Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood Action Fund said its clinics would continue to provide abortion services where permitted by law, tho. However, the ruling is expected to complicate access, particularly in states with strict abortion bans.
The case is likely to continue through the courts and could ultimately return to the U.S. Supreme Court, further shaping the national landscape of abortion access in the post-Roe era.
