The FDA Approves the Abortion Pill (2000)

Although mifepristone (formerly RU-486) was widely available in Europe for over a decade, the FDA’s approval of the medication fell victim to abortion politics in the United States until 2000. Part of a two-pill regimen, mifepristone offered the first medical alternative to surgical abortions in the United States and greatly expanded access to abortion. This segment from The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer covers the history of the approval process and the reactions of both Planned Parenthood and the National Right to Life Committee to the FDA’s decision.

Untitled | The MacNeil/Lehrer Report | September 28, 2000 This video clip and associated transcript appear from 09:41 - 16:03 in the full record.