During a recent Senate Finance Committee meeting, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed President Donald Trump's stance on the regulation of mifepristone, a drug commonly used in medication abortions. Kennedy stated that while Trump has not taken a definitive position on the matter, the President is interested in understanding the safety of mifepristone and other drugs.
Mifepristone, in combination with misoprostol, is a key component of medication abortions in the United States, which have become the primary method of abortion in the country. According to the Guttmacher Institute, over 63% of all abortions in the US in 2023 were conducted using medication abortion.
It is important to note that mifepristone received FDA approval in 2000 and has been extensively researched and proven to be safe and effective. The drug is authorized for ending pregnancies up to 10 weeks of gestation. Despite its approval and established safety record, anti-abortion advocates have raised concerns about the drug's safety and the FDA's approval process, leading to legal challenges aimed at restricting its use.
However, numerous studies spanning more than two decades have consistently demonstrated the high safety and efficacy of mifepristone. Leading medical organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association have affirmed the drug's safety based on substantial data and research.
