Pulling of RU 486 urged after two more deaths reported

By Tom Strode - Jul 29, 2005 - comment

Congressional critics of RU 486 are urging its removal from the market after two previously unreported deaths were disclosed by the abortion drug’s manufacturer.

Danco Laboratories in New York revealed July 18 the California women had died in 2004 and in 2005 after using the two-step drug regimen to abort their unborn children. Danco has acknowledged two other California users of RU 486 died in 2003 and a Canadian woman died after its use in 2001. Other reports have cited additional deaths by RU 486 users—three in Europe, one in the Philippines and another in the United States.

Danco announced it would update the safety information on the label for Mifeprex, the American brand name for RU 486, which is also known as mifepristone. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a public health advisory and said it would begin an investigation.

The sponsors of legislation that would stop sale of the drug while FDA approval of RU 486 is reviewed urged their colleagues to support their legislation.

“Clearly, warning labels and letters to doctors are not protecting the life and safety of young American women from this dangerous drug,” Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R.-Md., said in a written statement.

Sen Jim DeMint, R.-S.C., said in a written release, “If there were any doubts about the deadly effects of this drug before, there should not be any now. Congress must act quickly to suspend this drug before more women die.”

Bartlett’s bill is the RU 486 Suspension and Review Act, H.R. 1079, while DeMint’s version is S. 511. Bartlett’s bill has 73 cosponsors, while DeMint’s has only nine.

RU 486, or mifepristone, is used as the first part of a process normally occurring in the first seven weeks of pregnancy. That initial action causes the lining of the uterus to release the embryonic child. A second drug, known as misoprostol, is taken two days after mifepristone and causes the uterus to contract, expelling the baby.

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