Since the FDA approved mifepristone, the first pill in the two-step medication abortion protocol more than 7.5 million Americans have relied on it safely, making it one of the most studied and trusted medications in modern medicine. Its approval wasn’t just a medical milestone. It was a recognition that patients deserve care that is effective, evidence-based and shaped by their real lives.
This breakthrough changed not just abortion care, but healthcare delivery itself. Today, one in four abortions in the United States is done through telemedicine, a model made possible by mifepristone and misoprostol. In fact, at Hey Jane, the virtual clinic I co-founded in 2021, we’ve already cared for 100,000 patients through this model—proof of the growing demand for care that is safe, effective and designed for people’s real lives. And for patients in communities with few or no clinics, it has meant being able to access timely, high-quality care that otherwise would have been out of reach.
Their goal is clear: Strip away access even in states where abortion remains legal.
But the same qualities that make mifepristone indispensable, its safety, effectiveness and wide reach, have also made it a target. In 2023, extremist groups tried to undo the FDA’s approval in court, a case the Supreme Court dismissed. Yet new attempts continue. Just this August, attorneys general in Texas, Florida and now Louisiana moved to join an active lawsuit to restrict nationwide access. And as recently as last week, members of the current administration threatened to put mifepristone’s safety under review yet again.
These efforts rely on recycled, discredited claims about safety, ignoring both the science and the experiences of millions of patients. Their goal is clear: Strip away access even in states where abortion remains legal. And it flies in the face of public opinion, with more than 70 percent of Americans supporting access to the abortion pill.
As clinics close, even in states that legally protect abortion, patients are left with fewer options. For those later in pregnancy or who prefer in-person care, nearby providers are essential. But for early pregnancies, telemedicine has become a critical safeguard. It ensures that people don’t have to drive hundreds of miles, take unpaid time off work, or find childcare just to receive basic medical care. Telehealth isn’t a replacement for clinics, but it’s one reason people still have access when the traditional health system fails them.
What this anniversary underscores is simple: Abortion is healthcare, and patients will always find ways to seek it.
What this anniversary underscores is simple: Abortion is healthcare, and patients will always find ways to seek it. The FDA’s approval in 2000 didn’t just authorize a new drug. It set a new standard for care based on science, safety and patient needs—a standard that is under attack today and must be protected.
Marking 25 years of mifepristone should be both a moment of pride and a call to action. Pride in the millions who have safely relied on it, and in the medical innovation that has reshaped how care is delivered. But also action, because its future, and the future of evidence-based medicine, depends on defending it. Protecting mifepristone means protecting the right of patients to control their own health.
