Lawsuit argues North Carolina should follow FDA rules around abortion pill access

A UNC Well being physician sued North Carolina Wednesday over a regulation that restricts using abortion tablets, arguing that its limitations run counter to federal regulation.

• The lawsuit asks for the courts to dam North Carolina’s legal guidelines across the drug, mifepristone.
• The same lawsuit was filed in West Virginia the identical day.

Why it issues: North Carolina’s case is without doubt one of the first challenges to abortion legal guidelines because the U.S. Supreme Court docket struck down Roe v. Wade in its Dobbs choice final 12 months.

• The case is anticipated to be watched carefully by abortion opponents and advocates alike, as North Carolina has the least restrictive abortion legal guidelines within the Southeast.

State of play: UNC OB-GYN Amy Bryant’s lawsuit argues that the state ought to comply with Meals and Drug Administration pointers that the drug will be prescribed in particular person or via telehealth and disbursed by a well being care supplier or at retail pharmacies in order that sufferers can take the medicine the place they need.

• North Carolina presently requires sufferers to acquire the drug from a physician at a licensed surgical facility following a 72-hour wait.

State Legal professional Normal Josh Stein, who is known as as a defendant, advised information shops via a spokesperson he’s reviewing the lawsuit.

• Stein, who helps abortion rights, beforehand recused himself from defending the state’s blocked 20-week abortion ban after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
• Republican lawmakers have repeatedly criticized Stein, saying his job is to defend the state’s legal guidelines.

Go deeper: Pair of lawsuits kick off state-federal battle over abortion tablets (Politico)