By Terry Vanderheyden
CANBERRA, April 13, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration, which assumed power over the RU486 chemical abortion drug from Health Minister Tony Abbott in February, has authorized the abortifacient’s use by an abortionist there.
Abbott, a Roman Catholic who opposes abortion, had successfully blocked its use in the country for the past ten years until a special member’s bill originating in the Senate passed in February, ending his veto power.
Physician Caroline de Costa’s application to prescribe the drug was accepted by the TGA, as reported by The Australian. “I have been informed today that the Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved the application of myself and Dr Michael Carrette to become authorised prescribers of the drug mifepristone (RU486) in our private practices for the purpose of induced abortion,” she said, according to a statement released last night.
“Dr de Costa’s application is to be an authorised prescriber of a prohibited drug,” TGA spokesman Kay McNiece added. “RU486 is not yet registered in Australia.”
A private member’s bill to strip Abbott of his control of the drug was passed in Australia’s House in February after passing in the Senate earlier that month.
The controversial drug RU-486, or Mifepristone, has been linked to the deaths of at least ten women in Europe and the United States, as well as multiple cases of severe side effects requiring blood transfusions and surgery. Opponents of the drug say it was never properly tested for safety before it came on the market in France in 1988.
In a statement released during debate of the bill in the House in February, Cardinal George Pell had harsh words for the largely female group of senators who voted for the bill.
“Future generations will look back on today’s encouragement of abortion the way we now look at owning slaves,” he emphasized. “It is a sad irony that the first cross-party alliance of women in parliament should use its power to increase the opportunities for abortion, to attack life, rather than defend it. These senators are out of touch with young women where 60% want to delay the introduction of the drug until there is more information on the health risks.”
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Australian Cardinal on Abortion: Tide is Changing, Not as Fast as in US, But Changing
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/feb/06021504.html
Abortion Pill a No Go in Australia says Health Minister
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/nov/05111503.html
Australian Senate Votes in Favor of Dangerous Abortifacient Drug RU486
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/feb/06020904.html
Australia Votes to Allow Chemical Abortion Drug RU-486
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/feb/06021604.html