Opinion

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Jan. 14, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) – On November 25th an article entitled, “Medical abortion in Canada – behind the times” was printed in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, and a cover story was carried in national newspapers entitled, “Canadians should have access to abortion pill RU-486, leading medical journal argues.” 

In my experience, RU-486 is the “chemical coat hanger abortion” of the 90’s. The push for it has bubbled under the surface and now, once again, proponents desire it in Canada.

In an amazing research book entitled “RU486 – Misconceptions Myths and Moralsm” written by three pro-abortion feminists in 1992, they declared: “[RU-486] constitutes a new form of medical violence that endangers women’s lives and violates their right to be free from bodily harm.” 

In an open letter to MPs in Australia in 2005, Renata Klein, one of the book's authors, stated: “Then, as now, some of you will be astonished that as an internationally recognised feminist and academic who has worked on reproductive issues for 25 years and strongly supports a woman’s right to safe legal abortion, I will side with what are seen as conservative and anti-abortion views. 

“However, then, as now, I cannot support the view that chemical abortion is seen (a) as good reproductive choice for women, and (b) as a safe alternative to already available abortion by aspiration. I write to you because I am appalled by the misinformation given to the public by supporters of RU-486, who continue to claim chemical abortion is safe, and who portray it as a simple procedure; take three RU486 pills and –bingo! You are no longer pregnant.” 

In the article entitled, “Canadians should have access to abortion pill RU-486, leading medical journal argues,” we are told that RU486 is the “gold standard” and “essential medication.” Shockingly, we are informed that cancer and ulcer drugs are currently used “off-label” by physicians to cause abortion and this is “second rate” and “cumbersome,” but seemingly fine for Canadian women! 

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RU-486 will take us down one more level – a drug which has been specifically designed to starve a child, followed by the administration of another drug, Cytotec, to induce labour and expel the dead or dying child. Four visits at minimum to the facility, then the wait for your chemical miscarriage, at home alone, work or play – plus another internal examination; and by the way, bring what’s left of the child with you. Doesn’t this all sound very liberating? 

The columnist noted that one woman had died of a bacterial infection during 90’s clinical trials held in Canada. She did not mention that the doctor leading the research admitted that they did not inform women of a letter from the manufacturers of Cytotec, the second drug used, that it was dangerous for women to use it “off-label”. 

The columnist, noted that other women across the world have died, but cited Sheila Dunn, one of the authors of the CMAJ article, who said (in the journalists' words) that “investigations could find no explanation for the cluster of what are normally rare infections” and that “that there had been none in recent years.” 

I imagine that neither of these women had time to check the FDA website and particularly the Mifepristone US Post-marketing Adverse Events Summary through 04/30/2011, which noted that of the 2207 adverse events listed, 612 women were hospitalized, 339 experienced blood loss that required transfusions, 256 had infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, pelvic infections with sepsis, with 48 being severe, hospitalized for 2-3 days. Fifty-eight women had ectopic pregnancies. Several of the women (7 of 14) who died in the US, “died from sepsis (severe illness caused by infection of the bloodstream) after medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol…Sepsis is a known risk related to any type of abortion”. 

It also points out that seven women were infected with Clostridium sordelli that did not present ”the usual symptoms.” There was no fever! The other side effects of these infections are abdominal pain or discomfort, weakness, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; however, all of these are expected side effects of chemical abortion. 

If Clostridium sordelli presents with no fever, this is extremely significant and dangerous for women – how will they or the facility recognise the infection? Seventeen-year-old Holly Patterson and others might still be alive if their abortion facility had done so. 

Note: Jakki Jeffs is the executive director of Alliance for Life Ontario.