Statement from Fòs Feminista on nationwide restriction of abortion medication access by mail

New York, NY — Today, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling in Louisiana v. FDA reinstating a nationwide requirement that patients obtain mifepristone in person at a health center, rather than by mail or at a pharmacy after receiving care through telemedicine, while Louisiana’s appeal proceeds.

The decision imposes a severe restriction on mifepristone, a safe and effective medication used in nearly two-thirds of U.S. abortions and in early miscarriage care. The FDA lifted the in-person dispensing requirement in 2021, and made that change permanent in 2023, based on extensive evidence and real-world data showing that mifepristone can be safely provided through telemedicine and mail delivery.

This ruling is a dangerous rollback of reproductive rights and public health. It will make care harder to reach for people across the country, especially those living in rural areas, people with disabilities, people facing intimate partner violence, and others who already face significant barriers to in-person health care. It is also out of step with both the worldwide medical consensus on mifepristone and the clear support U.S. voters have shown for abortion rights in recent state-level elections.

In response to the Fifth Circuit’s decision, Giselle Carino, CEO of Fòs Feminista, issued the following statement:

“This decision is a direct attack on safe, evidence-based health care. Mifepristone has been used safely for more than 25 years for abortion and miscarriage care, and its safety has been repeatedly affirmed by medical authorities in the United States and around the world.

Restricting telemedicine access does not change the science. It only makes care harder to reach, especially for people who already face the greatest barriers to care. For many women, girls, and gender-diverse people, telemedicine is not a convenience. It is a critical pathway to dignity, autonomy, and timely health care.”

###

Fòs Feminista is an international feminist alliance advancing sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice. Together with more than 180 partners and allies across over 35 countries, we work to expand access to rights-based, gender-inclusive care and to strengthen locally led health systems and movements.

Our work spans healthcare delivery, policy advocacy, and movement-building. In partnership with local organizations, we support access to contraception, abortion care where legal, comprehensive sexuality education, and services for survivors of gender-based violence. We also invest in community-based strategies that respond to local contexts and reach those most often excluded from care.

Fòs Feminista works alongside partners in policy spaces, courts, and communities to protect bodily autonomy, advance equity, and defend human rights. Our approach centers local leadership, evidence, and dignity, recognizing that sustainable progress depends on flexible resources, strong partnerships, and care without conditions.