Don't Eschew the Abortion
Pill
Reproductive rights in this country are being curtailed by both Republican and
Democratic laws that make it increasingly difficult for women to choose to
have an abortion. It is especially upsetting that a pharmacist has the power
to choose what is best for that woman, through the means of a “conscience
clause,” and not dispense emergency contraception to the woman in need.
On
July 20th, the New York Times ran the headline, “2 More Women Die
after Abortion Pills," (A18). I became worried that women now might have even
fewer reproductive rights choices and that Concerned Women of America (a
conservative women's group) would run with this headline in their abortion
protest.
But
if you continue to read the article, you will find out that the risk of death
from infection for users of the pill is roughly one in 100,000 uses -- similar
to the risks of death from infection after surgical abortions or CHILDBIRTH.
Of
course, I don't make light of the fact that this drug (Mifeprex, also known as
misoprostol or RU-486) might cause bacterial infection. As with any drug,
Mifeprex should be further researched and the FDA is correct in warning that
the drug causes infection. When a woman feels unwell for more than 24 hours
after taking the drug, she should call her doctor. Antibiotics can stop and
cure the infection. Only five women in the United States have died after
taking abortion pills and a director at the FDA is not alarmed at this point.
If the alarm is not coming from health officials, maybe the government is
playing politics with our health. Which is definitely cause for alarm.
*Note: Emergency contraception (aka. The Morning After Pill) and abortion
pills are not the same thing. Emergency contraception works by preventing the
possibly fertilized egg from reaching the uterus. The Abortion Pill (RU486)
works after implantation has occurred and pregnancy is established.
Read Aaron's Response to Lea