SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is asking a federal judge in Spokane to unravel restrictions on mifepristone.
According to a press release from the attorney general's office, Ferguson is asking the judge to rule that the FDA's restrictions on the abortion medication are unlawful, asking the federal agency to "go back to the drawing board on regulating the drug."
Ferguson and other states filed a lawsuit last year. The attorney general's office said a judge granted Ferguson's request for a preliminary injunction "barring the FDA from doing anything to reduce the availability of the medication abortion drug mifepristone in Washington, 16 other states and the District of Columbia."
The judge found that the FDA likely didn't follow requirements in the law when it placed the restrictions on the medication.
According to the press release, Ferguson filed a motion late Thursday asking the judge to decide the case without a trial. Ferguson is arguing that the FDA is "unnecessarily and unlawfully limiting access to a drug that is safer than Tylenol, Viagra and insulin."
“We are continuing to fight for reproductive freedom, including access to mifepristone,” Ferguson said. “The FDA must remove its unnecessary and unlawful restrictions on this safe and effective medication. Attacks on scientifically proven abortion medication won’t cease, but we will keep fighting for the right to access mifepristone in Washington.”
Ferguson is part of a coalition of 18 attorney generals trying to permanently open up access. Right now, prescribers need to be certified before they can supply the drug to patients.
Mifepristone is one of two drugs used in nearly 66% of all abortions last year.