Recent legal developments in Louisiana v. FDA have created understandable questions for patients and providers alike. At this time, the case is on pause while the U.S. Supreme Court considers next steps, and we expect more clarity in the coming days. The timing of the district court ruling was clearly intended to create disruption and chaos. We are not taking the bait. Our online scheduling will remain open through May 11th, with a few days’ buffer period afterward to allow time to pivot and prepare our patients for misoprostol-only regimens, though we expect this to be unlikely.
Medication abortion is a safe, common, and well-established part of healthcare. Medication abortion using mifepristone and misoprostol is extremely trusted and highly effective, used by more than 7 million women in the U.S. since FDA approval nearly 26 years ago. Mifepristone followed by misoprostol is currently the most common way of ending a pregnancy in the United States. It is because mifepristone is so well accepted by science, doctors and patients, that the Louisiana case is aimed at restricting it.
Independent abortion providers like ours have continued to serve patients through periods of uncertainty before. We’ve seen this play already by anti-abortion extremists. We know that rapid, reactive changes in care models and information can create unnecessary disruption for patients seeking timely care. That’s why we are taking a measured and thoughtful approach as this situation evolves, with a focus on maintaining continuity and clarity.
Abortion On Demand has been an established provider in telehealth care since 2021. Our clinical team brings more than 40 years of combined experience, and we maintain a strong track record of safety, quality, and high patient satisfaction. Over the past five years, AOD has cared for tens of thousands of patients across 27 different states. We were among the first telehealth abortion providers, and today we continue to serve one of the broadest geographic footprints in the country, operating fully within all state and federal regulations. Our staff even co-authored the original direct-to-patient protocols, so we take the Louisiana case personally.
It’s important to be clear about roles: medical decisions are best made by patients and their healthcare provider. Not the courts. Not politicians. Care should be guided by clinical evidence, safety, and individual patient needs. Our commitment to patients remains unchanged. We will continue to provide safe, individualized care, whether that involves our continued seamless care using mifepristone/misoprostol, pivoting to misoprostol-only regimens, and/or coordinated referrals to trusted partner clinics when needed. And we will adjust our approach as soon as we have more guidance from the Supreme Court.
– Dr Jamie Phifer, MD Medical Director