US appeals court temporarily halts mail delivery of abortion pill

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Washington DC: A US appeals court has issued a temporary order halting the mail delivery of mifepristone, the most common medication used for abortions in the United States.

The ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals requires patients to obtain the drug in person from health clinics and bans its distribution through pharmacies or mail.

The lawsuit was brought by the state of Louisiana against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While Louisiana officials hailed the decision as a ‘victory,’ reproductive rights advocates condemned the move, stating it aims to make abortion as ‘unreachable as possible’.

Danco Laboratories, a major distributor of the drug, has requested a one-week stay of the order to prepare an emergency appeal to the US Supreme Court.

The company warned that the ‘unprecedented’ decision would cause ‘immediate chaos’ and confusion for patients and pharmacies nationwide. Mifepristone has been FDA-approved since 2000 and is also used for managing early miscarriages.