North Carolina laws exceeding US Food and Drug Administration limitations on the prescribing of the abortion-inducing drug mifepristone are preempted by federal law, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday.
However, Judge Catherine Eagles in Greensboro added, state laws “that focus more on the practice of medicine and a patient’s informed consent,” that haven’t been addressed by the FDA, don’t frustrate congressional purpose and are not preempted.
Eagles’ 49-page ruling granted summary judgment in favor of the plaintiff, Dr. Amy Bryant on the former, and in favor of intervening state lawmakers on the latter. North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, ...