New York Ensures Abortion Access Despite Possible Ban

Dan Clark: An update on access to abortion in New York.

First off, nothing has changed there because of state law. Last year, the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade didn't impact access to abortion here, but a ruling last week from a federal judge could make certain abortion medication illegal nationwide, including in New York.

That drug called mifepristone is used to induce abortion in the early stages of pregnancy without surgery. The judge from Texas ruled that it wasn't approved the right way by the FDA when the agency cleared for sale two decades ago.

On the same day, another judge from Washington State made a different ruling, saying it could remain in several states where it's legal.

Neither ruling has changed access to mifepristone in New York, at least for right now. But the state is preparing for that possibility. Governor Kathy Hochul said this week that New York is building a stockpile of a different abortion medication that would remain legal even if mifepristone illegal.

Kathy Hochul: Once again, states have become the battleground on these fights and one of the latest steps to tear down these rights have only strengthened our resolve. So, I'm proud to announce that New York State will create a stockpile of misoprostol, another form of medication abortion.

Extremist judges have made it clear that they won't stop at any one particular drug or service. So we’re going to ensure that New Yorkers will continue to have access to medication abortion, no matter what.

DC: The governor's office says New York has purchased 150,000 doses of misoprostol, which they say is a five-year supply for the state.