The Life of the Abortion Pill in the United States

Abstract

During the last eleven years, the efforts of those fighting to make mifepristone available in the United States have been thwarted by those fighting just as valiantly to keep it out. The struggle between the two groups is evident in every decision made, be it by the patent owner, the manufacturer, the FDA, or the President, regarding the drug's future and approval in the United States. This paper will examine the ideology behind the struggle of these two groups and its effect on the life of the abortion pill, mifepristone, in the United States. Part I will describe how mifepristone works to chemically induce an abortion, review the safety and effectiveness of the drug, and discuss other medical uses of the drug. Part II will identify the key players in the struggle to bring mifepristone to the United States and discuss the motivations and ideologies behind each groups' efforts. Part III will review the history of mifepristone in France, from its invention to its approval. Part IV will discuss the history of mifepristone in the United States and examine the impact of the political struggle regarding the drug on mifepristone's availability (or lack thereof) in the United States.