Louisiana Faces Lawsuit Over Abortion Pill Reclassification as Controlled Substances

Healthcare providers argue the law endangers patients by delaying access to essential medications for reproductive health emergencies.

A lawsuit was filed in Louisiana challenging the state's classification of mifepristone and misoprostol as Schedule IV controlled substances, arguing it creates dangerous delays in medical treatment.
The law, signed by Governor Jeff Landry, went into effect on October 1, 2024, and is the first of its kind in the United States.
Plaintiffs, including doctors and healthcare advocates, claim the reclassification violates the Louisiana Constitution and jeopardizes women's health by restricting access to critical medications.
The reclassification requires more stringent storage and prescription protocols, potentially delaying life-saving treatments for conditions like postpartum hemorrhage and incomplete miscarriages.
Proponents of the law argue it is necessary to prevent coerced abortions, citing a Texas case as an example, while opponents warn it exacerbates health disparities, particularly affecting Black women.