“Mifepristone is safe and effective. It’s been the gold standard for over two decades,” writes Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey in a tweet that was also shared by Sen. Elizabeth Warren. “We’re keeping it available in Massachusetts – no matter what some extremist, Trump-appointed judge in Texas says,” Healey writes.
Mifepristone is safe and effective. It’s been the gold standard for over two decades.
— Maura Healey (@MassGovernor) April 10, 2023
We’re keeping it available in Massachusetts – no matter what some extremist, Trump-appointed judge in Texas says.
Here’s how we’re going to do it. pic.twitter.com/i5RXNHz5RD
The “extremist, Trump-appointed judge in Texas,” as Healey characterizes him, is U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, whose controversial decision to suspend FDA approval of Mifepristone has sent shockwaves through pro-choice groups and opponents of a politically motivated judiciary, especially in the wake of the Supreme Court’s invalidation of Roe v. Wade.
Healey is a Harvard grad, a lawyer, and the former Attorney General of Massachusetts, so she knows something about the courts.
I’m also issuing an Executive Order that makes sure medication abortion, including mifepristone, is protected under the laws passed in the wake of Dobbs. The Shield Law continues to protect providers who stock and dispense mifepristone, and patients who access this vital care.
— Maura Healey (@MassGovernor) April 10, 2023
In preparing Massachusetts to combat judicial decisions that interfere with a women’s reproductive rights, Healey reports that she asked the University of Massachusetts “to purchase 15,000 doses of mifepristone. That’s over a year’s worth of doses that we expect to have in hand this week. We’ve also been in touch with other health care providers ordering additional quantities to make available for patients.”
In her statement Governor Healey reveals that 15,000 doses are more than “a year’s worth,” meaning the state can provide for an expected number of more than 1,000 abortions by medication per month on average.
Mifepristone, also known as RU-486, is a medication used to terminate a pregnancy. It works by blocking the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for the continuation of pregnancy. When progesterone is blocked, the lining of the uterus breaks down, and the cervix softens and opens, leading to the expulsion of the contents of the uterus.
Mifepristone is typically used in combination with another medication called misoprostol, which is taken a few days later and causes the uterus to contract and expel the contents. This two-step process is known as medication abortion.
Mifepristone can be used to terminate a pregnancy up to 10 weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period. It is usually given in a healthcare provider’s office or clinic and requires close medical supervision to ensure safety and effectiveness.
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