WASHINGTON, D.C., September 28, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Fourteen U.S. women have died after taking RU-486 and a total of 2,207 reported adverse effects after using the drug, according to a report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released this summer. The FDA report, released in mid-July, shows a significant rise in women who have been subjected to “adverse effects” resulting from taking RU-486 since the previous report in 2006 noted 1,100 women.
Approximately 1.52 million women have used the abortion drug through the end of April 2011.
Of the women experiencing medical and physical problems resulting from the abortion drug mifepristone, more commonly known as RU-486, 612 women required hospitalizations, 339 experienced blood loss significant enough to require a transfusion, 256 experienced infections, and 48 women experienced “severe infections.”
“Severe infections generally involve death or hospitalization for at least 2-3 days, intravenous antibiotics for at least 24 hours, total antibiotic usage for at least 3 days, and any other physical or clinical findings, laboratory data or surgery that suggest a severe infection,” the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report says.
The U.S. abortion industry has resisted FDA guidelines for usage of RU-486. The FDA reveals that RU-486 drug has been misused in 58 cases where the abortion drug was given to women who had ectopic pregnancy, a pregnancy outside the uterus.
“Administration of mifepristone and misoprostol is contraindicated in patients with confirmed or suspected ectopic pregnancy,” the FDA observes.
RU-486 has also been at the center of the controversy surrounding “telemed” abortions, in which an abortionist prescribes RU-486 via a internet video link to a woman in a remote location. “Telemed” abortions are being increasingly pushed by Planned Parenthood, but opposed by pro-life organizations who argue that the practice is dangerous.
It is not only women in the U.S. who are suffering as a result of chemical abortions.
A recent study out of England found women who have drug-induced abortions prefer the surgical abortion procedure. They complained of more pain and more emotional distress following the use of RU-486 and the passing of the body of the dead baby than woman who underwent surgical abortions.
An Australian study found evidence that RU-486 abortions have a far higher rate of serious complications than surgical abortion. The study found that a massive 5.7% of women undergoing such chemical abortion, versus 0.4% of women who had surgical abortion, were re-admitted to the hospital for post-abortion treatment.
Some states have begun clamping down on reckless use of RU-486. In May, Oklahoma legislation was signed enforcing the FDA rules. Texas is considering similar legislation.
