Advertisement

How a 2014 court case that blocked an opioid ban could ensure access to abortion medication

03:35
Download Audio
Resume

The legal battles over abortion rights are intensifying following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. And some are looking at a 2014 Massachusetts lawsuit as a potential precedent. At the time, governor Deval Patrick sued to ban the powerful opioid known as Zohydro. But the courts ruled that because federal regulators approved the drug, the state could not ban it. The case raises questions about whether courts will use the same reasoning for federally approved medications that terminate a pregnancy.

Attorney Jamie Hoag, former deputy legal counsel in the Patrick administration, talks with senior correspondent and host Deborah Becker on WBUR's Morning Edition.

This segment aired on August 25, 2022.

Related:

Headshot of Deborah Becker

Deborah Becker Host/Reporter
Deborah Becker is a senior correspondent and host at WBUR. Her reporting focuses on mental health, criminal justice and education.

More…

Advertisement

More from WBUR

Listen Live
Close