Just when you think the federal government couldn’t get any more reckless, officials have decided to temporarily to put pregnant women in even more danger.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has quietly relaxed the enforcement of safety protocols for chemical abortions during the COVID pandemic, and who knows when it will be declared “officially” over.
At the same time—responding to pressure from anti-life groups—pro-abortion President Biden has announced that his administration will conduct a review of those guidelines. With his strong support for abortion, it’s almost a sure bet that most, if not all, of the guidelines will be permanently removed.
Basically, the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) are designed to ensure that women, physicians and pharmacists are informed about proper use and risks of taking a certain medication.
For example, since 2000 the FDA has required that the pills must be prescribed by a certified health provider and dispensed in-person in a health facility setting. Now pressure is being applied to have the pills prescribed remotely and dispensed through the mail.
By easing enforcement of the rule, women are now in danger of experiencing numerous adverse effects from taking RU-486, including exploitation and death.
“Beyond the health risks, the FDA’s action to facilitate abortion by mail aggravates the risk to women from unsafe black-market pills and from being subjected to chemical abortions without their consent. This decision is dangerous for women and will invite additional abuse of women at the hands of abusive partners and sex traffickers,” explained Dr. Donna Harrison of the Charlotte Lozier Institute and CEO of the American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG).
Despite claims that RU-486 is safe, the facts prove otherwise. studies have shown it is four times more dangerous than surgical abortions. According to the latest information from the FDA (2018), at least 24 women have died after taking the drug. There’s no doubt the current number is higher.
Because there is no medical oversight, women can experience any of the following complications and not realize they should seek medical help:
Bleeding and Hemorrhage
Heavy bleeding is the most common complication. Some women have experienced this condition for up to five weeks following the abortion.
Prolonged heavy bleeding may be a sign of an incomplete abortion (see below) or other complications, and may require surgical intervention, blood transfusions, or intravenous fluids.
Hemorrhaging—the loss of large amounts of blood—associated with the use of RU-486 appears to be more severe than found in surgical or spontaneous abortions.
In addition, blood clots of various sizes are also common.
Occasionally, patients will experience little or no bleeding in the first 24 hours. This can be the sign of an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, or a failed abortion.
Chemical Abortion Failure
Failure is a well-known complication when using RU-486.
U.S. and French studies have reported significant rates of surgical intervention cases for: incomplete abortion (as high as 47 out of 1,000 women); a continuing or on-going pregnancy (up to 13 per 1,000 women) and medically necessary interventions (16 per 1,000 women).
The percentages are even higher when the drugs are used “off label,” or past the 49 day limit. In those cases, the incomplete abortion numbers jump to as high as 80 per 1,000 women.
Severe Pain
Abdominal pain is experienced by nearly 100 per 1,000 women. Of those, about half considered the pain to be severe, with more than 20% claiming it was almost as bad as they could imagine. Approximately 70% of women may receive at least one non-narcotic pain killer, while the remaining 30% receive a narcotic drug.
Infection
Infection and hemorrhage are the most frequent life-threatening issues associated with RU-486.
The risk of severe bacterial infection, such as sepsis (infection of the blood stream), has been documented in otherwise healthy young women who have resorted to a chemical abortion.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Patients undergoing a chemical abortion can have an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, since many of the symptoms caused by both are similar.
Other Risks
Women using RU-486 may also experience:
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
- Damage to the uterus.
- Auto-immune disease.
- Complications in future pregnancies.
- Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP), a rare blood condition that causes clots to form in blood vessels throughout the body.
The seriousness of this issue is heightened by the fact that chemical abortions represent at least 40% all abortions. However, since these abortions are often not reported, the total is no doubt much higher.
The FDA decision is another stark example that those who claim to care about women really don’t. Abortion is all about the money.
According to costaide.com a first trimester surgical abortion costs between $400 to $500, and the average price of a chemical abortion is $450. Yet giving someone a pill doesn’t involve multiple staff members or using multiple rooms in the office. Enhancing the bottom line of abortion providers is more important than protecting women’s health.
Equally important is the fact that an abortion, whether chemical or surgical, destroys the Personhood of a precious child.
You can help expose this hypocrisy by sharing this article with your friends and church members.
Sources: abortionpillrisks.org; ncregister.com; abc.net; fda.gov.; liveaction.org; catholicnewsagency.com.
By Wayne DuBois
Georgia Right to Life
Media Relations Advisor