Statement of Assemblymember Amy Paulin on the Fate of Abortion Medication

The U.S. Supreme Court announced today that they will hear the case regarding access to abortion medication. It is frightening that such an impactful decision is in the hands of a court instead of medical providers, but this is where we are, and I will be fighting to make New York State a safe haven for women everywhere.

For years the abortion medication Mifepristone has been safely and effectively used by millions of women in the U.S. and worldwide. Mifepristone and misoprostol can be taken up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy, greatly expanding the abortion window for women. They have no risk of overdose or addiction, and have a lower rate of complications than many widely used drugs, including Tylenol.

In recent years the FDA has expanded access by allowing abortion medication pills to be prescribed online, mailed to patients, and dispensed at retail pharmacies.

In 2021, over half of abortions in the United States were medication abortions, specifically using the two-drug regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol.

Abortion pills are therefore key to expanding abortion access and fighting the Court’s draconian decision to strike down Roe v. Wade, as the pills can be transported across state borders.

After the FDA ruling allowing pharmacies to dispense, I immediately introduced legislation for New York State to allow pharmacists to dispense the pills used for medication abortion through the use of non-patient specific prescriptions. Democratic Governors in 15 states also issued a letter to the CEOs of major pharmacy chains urging them to be guided by “science and medical evidence” and “not politics or litigation threats.”

Now once again our court system is being used to undermine science and the FDA’s regulatory authority, as the fate of abortion access lies in the hands of the Supreme Court.

Poll after poll shows that the majority of Americans believe that abortion should be legal. Will the Supreme Court once again ignore the public’s will and seek to control women’s bodies?

Imagine having to travel out of state to get an abortion, even in circumstances where a woman’s pregnancy is non-viable and a threat to their health and future fertility, as just happened in Texas. Is this a play for humanity or control over women? Clearly it is the latter.

And if an FDA-approved medication can be effectively banned by the court, what is next? Will anti-vaccination activists persuade the court to ban similarly widely used and FDA-approved vaccines? It’s a frightening trajectory and one we cannot allow.

Access to abortion is something I have fought for throughout my time as a legislator. I will continue to fight against the tragic and destructive attempts to turn back the clock to the detriment of women and families. I will work to ensure that New York State not only allows, but expands abortion access, and that our great state is a safe haven for all.