White House fears ‘devastating’ ban on abortion pills

The White House expressed concern on Wednesday about a potential “devastating” ban on abortion pills across the United States, which a conservative judge could decide.

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Such a decision would be “unprecedented and devastating for women. And we would find ourselves in unknown territory,” said US executive spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre during her routine press briefing.

“We are working closely with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health to be prepared” for this eventuality, she assured.

A Texas federal judge, Matthew Kacsmaryk, can since February 24 render his decision at any time on a complaint filed by opponents of abortion against the United States Medicines Agency concerning the authorization in 2000 of mifepristone ( RU 486), one of the two pills used for medical termination of pregnancy.

These plaintiffs ask the magistrate, known for his ultra-conservative positions, to suspend without delay this authorization for the whole of the United States.

His decision could have enormous consequences, since 54% of abortions performed in the country today are medical.

Since the Supreme Court of the United States dynamited the right to abortion last June, fifteen states have banned abortions on their soil and abortion pills are illegal there.

But women who live there can still get the pills from neighboring states, a simpler procedure than surgery.

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