Italy Set to Allow Sales of Dangerous RU 486 Abortion Drug, Killed 13 Women
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 30, 2009
Rome, Italy (LifeNews.com) — Today, the Italian government made Italy the next nation to allow sales of the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug even though it has killed more than a dozen women worldwide. The abortion pill has injured more than one thousand women in the United States alone, according to FDA figures.
When Italy legalized abortion in 1978, its decision only included surgical abortions, not the kind that can be done with the controversial mifepristone pill.
The Italian Pharmaceuticals Agency (AIFA) announced the decision today that, after a two year review process, the abortion drug can be sold under the name Mifegyne. The French drug company Exelgyn had sought permission to sell the abortion drug in Italy.
Health Minister Livia Turco had pushed the abortion drug in Italy after she replaced former Health Minister Francesco Storace, who was able to halt the RU 486 abortion drug trials temporarily.
He was able to do so, citing the law and the fact that some of the women involved in the abortion drug trials were ultimately having the abortions at home rather than in the hospitals.
Abortions in Italy have been declining, dropping from 234,801 abortions in 1982 to 136,715 in 2004 but pro-life advocates would like to drive that number down even further.
According to FDA reports as of December 2006, there have been eight known deaths associated with mifepristone in the U.S., nine life-threatening incidents, 116 blood transfusions, and 232 hospitalizations.
In total, more than 1,100 women have had medical problems after using the drug as of that date.
The first victim of RU 486 was a Tennessee woman who died after using the abortion drug. She had an undetected ectopic pregnancy, and the drug is not supposed to be used in such situations.
Following her death, four California women died from using the abortion drug and the FDA announced last year that a Colorado woman had died as well.
Women have died from using the abortion drug in Canada, England, France and Sweden.
An FDA panel eventually investigated the deaths and found that the vaginal, rather than oral, use of the abortion drug was likely contributing to the deaths.
Planned Parenthood had been going against the FDA guidelines on using the abortion drug and changed its protocols to allow for oral use after women died at their facilities.
Danco Laboratories has been granted an exclusive license from the Population Council, a pro-abortion group, to manufacture, market and distribute Mifeprex in the United States.
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