Last week, mifepristone — one of the two drugs used in the most common medication abortion regimen — was on the verge of being banned nationwide due to the actions of a federal judge. Such a ban would effectively halt legal access to medication abortions — which make up more than half of all abortions overall performed in the United States according to the Guttmacher Institute.
Then on Friday, U.S. Supreme Justice Samuel Alito issued a temporary order that blocked the impending restrictions from taking effect. Reproductive rights advocates cheered the order, which put the extreme ruling on hold and ensured access to the drug for now. Yet celebrating Alito's order as a victory for reproductive rights would be premature, as Justice Alito merely put the restrictions on hold until April 19 at midnight.
