Supreme Court Boots Anti-Abortion Law Case Back To Oklahoma Court

The Supreme Court is sending back to state court a case about an Oklahoma anti-abortion law that bans off-label use of certain abortion-inducing drugs.

The justices on Thursday asked the Oklahoma Supreme Court to clarify some questions before the high court considers an appeal.

The state court threw out the law requiring doctors to follow strict guidelines authorized by the Food and Drug Administration and barring off-label uses of certain abortion-inducing drugs.

Such moves include changing a recommended dosage or prescribing it for different symptoms than the drug was initially approved for. Oklahoma judges had halted enforcement during the court challenge.

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt calls the Supreme Court's decision "extraordinary," saying the Oklahoma Supreme Court has misapplied federal law to strike down the state's abortion laws.

"This law does not ban the use of abortion-inducing drugs, but seeks to protect women from harmful off-label uses. The Court grants less than 1 percent of such review requests and we look forward to the opportunity to defend Oklahoma's right to protect its citizens."

5/15/2012 Related Story: Authors Of Abortion Drug Bill Discuss Recent Ruling At State Capitol

The justices asked if state law blocks the use of misoprostol, including in conjunction with mifepristone, and if it blocks the use of methotrexate in ectopic pregnancies.