Columbus, OH — The following statement was issued today by Dr. Marcela Azevedo, Dr. Lauren Beene, Dr. Nancy Li, and Dr. Aziza Wahby, executive leadership of Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights:
“Federal District Court Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk substituted his fanatical opposition to abortion for the rule of law. His decision in the mifepristone case is outrageous, unwarranted, unsupported by both medical science and legal precedent, and puts the lives and health of Americans needlessly at risk. We urge the FDA, the Biden Administration, and the Department of Justice to take all steps necessary to ensure that mifepristone, which has been proven safe and effective during more than 20 years of use, remains available to patients in the United States.
“It is disappointing that Ohio was one of the 23 states that sided with the extremists who filed the lawsuit.
“This tragic and dangerous ruling coupled with the overall hostility to reproductive rights by government and politicians in Ohio serves as powerful reminders that amending the Constitution is the only way to guarantee safe abortion access in Ohio. We know this ill-conceived court decision will motivate Ohio voters to place the reproductive rights amendment on the ballot and to work even harder in the days and weeks ahead.
“At the same time, we applaud Federal Judge Thomas Rice of Washington state for ordering the FDA to ensure that mifepristone remains available in the 17 states and the District of Columbia that sought an injunction barring the agency from taking it off the market. As a result, patients and doctors in those states will have access to this important treatment option for the foreseeable future. Because Kacsmaryk stayed his order for seven days to give the FDA time to prepare an appeal, Mifepristone will continue to be available in Ohio for at least the short term.”
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