US appeals court temporarily halts mail delivery of abortion pill
A US appeals court has temporarily halted the mail delivery of mifepristone, a medication used in most abortions, requiring in-person pickup from clinics. The decision, issued by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, overturns a lower court ruling that permitted mail delivery during an FDA regulatory review. The case is likely to be appealed to the US Supreme Court, with critics arguing the ruling restricts access to safe and legal reproductive care.
- ▪The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that mifepristone must be obtained in person, banning mail delivery across the US.
- ▪The lawsuit was brought by Louisiana, a state with some of the nation's strictest abortion laws, against the FDA.
- ▪The FDA originally approved mifepristone in 2000, and it is commonly used for both abortion and early miscarriage management.
- ▪Critics of the ruling, including reproductive rights advocates, argue it undermines patient access and is not based on scientific evidence.
- ▪The 2024 Supreme Court previously rejected efforts to restrict mifepristone, citing lack of legal standing by challengers.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
US appeals court temporarily halts mail delivery of abortion pillSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxThe court order requires women seeking abortions anywhere in the US to obtain mifepristone in person from health clinics.PHOTO: AFPPublished May 02, 2026, 09:10 AMUpdated May 02, 2026, 09:10 AMWASHINGTON – A US appeals court on May 1 temporarily halted mail delivery of mifepristone, the medication used in the majority of abortions in the US. A three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals delivered the order in a lawsuit brought by the southern state of Louisiana, which has some of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country, against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).The order by the conservative-dominated court requires women seeking abortions…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.