Holly Patterson's Parents Endorse Pro-Life Bill Reviewing RU 486

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- In an open letter written today to members of Congress, the parents of Holly Patterson, the California teenager who died after taking the RU 486 abortion drug, endorsed legislation that would suspend the FDA's approval of the drug pending a Congressional review.

"We will actively support 'Holly's Law' in Congress by Reps. DeMint, Bartlett and Senator Brownback to suspend and review the abortion drug RU 486," Monty and Helen Patterson say in their letter.

"Holly depended on the safety of the FDA approved pill administered by Planned Parenthood," the Pattersons continued. "The FDA has failed to carry out its mission."

"As parents, we cannot allow our beautiful Holly's horrible death to be in vain. RU 486 has caused serious injury and has been implicated in the deaths of other young women. Now it has killed our daughter."

The Pattersons demanded that FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson take RU-486 off the market "before more parents suffer and women die."

Holly's parents also announced their support for a group seeking to obtain an initiative on the California ballot that would require parental notification before an abortion can be performed on a teenage girl.

They said they would back the Tell-A-Parent initiative, sponsored by the Life on the Ballot organization. It was submitted to the state attorney general in September for review and needs 600,000 signatures to be included on the November 2004 ballot.

"Currently in California, teenage girls under the age of 18 can't get their ears pierced or go on a school trip, but they can have a medical or surgical abortion without parental knowledge or consent," said the Pattersons. "This prevents parents from being able to talk to their children about a pregnancy."

As with the parents of Laci Peterson, who died along with her unborn son Connor, a tragic event has sparked tremendous emotion and a strong desire to put laws in place that would protect people.

"There are no quick fixes for a pregnancy or magical pills that will make it go away. Our family, friends and community are all deeply saddened and forever marred by Holly's tragic and preventable death," the Pattersons conclude

Please help this initiative!

Tell-A-Parent Initiative - http://www.lifeontheballot.org

FREEDOM ALERT
from the desk of Congressman Jim DeMint

November 7, 2003

DEMINT INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO TAKE ABORTION PILL RU-486 OFF THE MARKET, REVIEW ITS SAFETY GUIDELINES

In recent weeks, many Americans have become familiar with the tragic story of 18-year-old Holly Patterson who died from septic shock caused by a therapeutic chemically drug induced (RU-486) abortion. Sadly, Holly is the latest among hundreds of women across the country who have been injured or killed from complications associated with RU-486.

What makes Holly’s untimely death even more tragic is that it was preventable. When the Clinton administration rushed approval of RU-486 in its waning days in 2000, many Members of Congress knew that the FDA cut corners and compromised safety. Congress should not have to wait for another death before taking action.

Yesterday, I joined with 60 of my colleagues, including House Major Leader Tom DeLay, in introducing “Holly’s Law”. The parents of Holly Patterson have asked that we name our legislation after their daughter and we have honored their request.

My legislation, which will be introduced in the Senate by Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, will immediately suspend the Food and Drug Administration’s approval RU-486 and initiate an investigation into the suspicious procedures used by the FDA to push this drug onto the market.

As a pro-life congressman, I celebrated President Bush’s signing this week of a bill to ban Partial Birth Abortion. At the same time, I think the Patterson family was wise to ask people on both sides of the abortion debate to find common ground and do the right thing to public safety.

If this drug dealt with any other situation besides abortion, the response would be clear and immediate. For example, when Baltimore Orioles reliever Steve Bechler died after taking the supplement ephedra, Congress held hearings and government officials praised athletic organizations for banning the substance. Our response to RU-486 deaths and complications should not be any different.

I’m proud to be working for my colleagues to pass this bill so no other families have to experience a tragedy similar to the Pattersons.

God bless,

Jim

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