Pregnancy Help Group Says FDA Should Not Approve Abortion Drug Ella
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
June 21, 2010
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The national pregnancy help organization Care Net assists thousands of pregnant women at its affiliated centers every day. With that experience of knowing women what want and need, a physician representative the organization says the FDA should not approve the new abortion drug Ella.
As LifeNews.com has reported, an FDA panel cast two unanimous votes suggesting the agency approve the ella abortion drug, known as EllaOne in Europe or ulipristal.
Life mifepristone, the abortion drug commonly known as RU 486, EllaOne has the potential to cause the death and abortion of an established pregnancy growing in the womb.
However, abortion advocates and officials on the FDA panel, have misrepresented the drug as an "improved" morning after pill that only works to prevent pregnancy. However, pro-life physicians have confirmed, and studies have shown, that it destroys the life of a unique human being after conception, as opposed to merely preventing fertilization from occurring.
Care Net’s national medical consultant Sandy Christiansen, MD, FACOG, said the organization "strongly recommends that EllaOne not be granted FDA approval."
"Its ability to destroy established pregnancies, as well as prevent implantation, makes it an embryocidal drug. FDA approval without making this clear to the public would violate the public trust," Dr. Christiansen said.
"Care Net joins other life-affirming organizations, such as American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG), who have clearly stated that EllaOne is an abortifacient of the same type as Mifepristone and its approval as an emergency contraceptive raises serious health and ethical issues," the physician added.
Christiansen outlined several concerns the group has, including the fact that ella can cause the death of an embryo growing in the uterus and that "women seeking pregnancy ‘prevention’ need to be adequately informed of this potential – the FDA should include a Black Box warning."
"There is an unknown impact on existing pregnancies exposed to the drug. Women who do not know they are pregnant will take EllaOne, and there are inadequate studies on toxicity to the developing embryo," she added.
Christiansen is also concerned about off-label use because it the potential to induce an abortion.
"As with Mifiprex and Plan B, this drug will no doubt be used in a manner that is outside FDA approval. The potential exists for it to be used to abort pregnancies," she said.
Meanwhile, the Care Net doctor also said taking EllaOne multiple times during a menstrual cycle carries unknown safety risks.
She points out the drug has not been involved in numerous in-depth studies involving women who are over age 35, on concomitant hormonal contraceptives, lactating, or are teenagers.
Christiansen is also concerned about the potential for criminal abuse of drug.
"EllaOne could be used on an unsuspecting, pregnant woman. FDA needs to put in place proper restrictions to prevent this abuse," she said.
Related web sites:
Care net – https://www.care-net.org
Sign a Petition Against Ella – https://www.ellacausesabortions.com
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