Washington — The American Psychological Association has applauded the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision allowing a drug commonly used for medical abortions to remain on the market.
“We are pleased the court has protected access to this medication. Policies based on the notion that abortion is harmful to women’s mental health are not supported by scientific evidence. Research has consistently shown that having an abortion is not associated with mental health problems, but those who are denied an abortion have worse physical and mental health, as well as worse economic outcomes,” said APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD.
Following the US Supreme Court’s landmark 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, a group of anti-abortion activists sued the US Food and Drug Administration, challenging its approval of mifepristone, a drug commonly used in medical abortions. A federal judge initially suspended the FDA’s approval of the drug, but a subsequent ruling by the court of appeals reinstated the approval, as well as repealing the FDA’s previous changes in 2016 to ease access.
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the anti-abortion groups that initially sued the FDA did not have the standing to bring the case, leaving all of the FDA’s previous actions intact.
Together with the National Association of Social Workers, the APA submitted an amicus brief supporting the FDA in the Supreme Court case, arguing that lower court decisions “erroneously claimed that medication abortion is associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes.” The brief’s purpose was to “make this Court aware of the faulty evidence behind the lower courts’ reasoning in these cases” by providing scientific evidence that not only was voluntary abortion not associated with negative physical or mental health outcomes, but that denial of access to abortion care leads to increased levels of anxiety, decreased self-esteem, and negative socioeconomic and physical health outcomes.
APA has long championed equal access to reproductive health services. The association has passed four policies or resolutions since 1969 affirming a woman’s right to choose and refuting claims about the alleged adverse psychological effects of abortion. APA has also filed 12 amicus curiae briefs in abortion-related cases. Most recent policy (PDF, 72KB) Passed in February 2022.
For more information about APA’s advocacy and the science related to abortion and reproductive health, visit APA’s Abortion and Mental Health webpage.
