Statement attributable to:
Isaac O. Opole, MBChB, PhD, MACP
President, American College of Physicians
WASHINGTON June 13, 2024 – The American College of Physicians (ACP) is relieved by the U.S. Supreme Court decision announced today that that upholds the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of mifepristone. Had the court revoked mifepristone’s approval the justices would have been substituting their legal opinions for the medical and scientific knowledge of experts dedicated to evaluating the safety of pharmaceuticals, setting a troubling precedent. Today’s decision affirms that scientific evidence must continue to be the guiding factor in approving medical treatments.
ACP joined with other physician organizations in an amicus brief in this case because revoking approval of mifepristone would have disrupted medical care nationwide, despite a decades-long history of safe and effective use. While we are relieved by today’s decision, more needs to be done to protect and restore access to reproductive health services including access to abortion across the country. ACP is committed to continuing to fight to ensure our patients can access necessary services without undue government interference.
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About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 145 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 161,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Contact: Jacquelyn Blaser, (202) 261-4572, jblaser@acponline.org