Parents of Teen Who Died From Abortion Drug Discuss Lawsuit

LifeNews.com ^ | December 22, 2004 | Steven Ertelt

[nickcarraway]

Livermore, CA (LifeNews.com) -- The parents of California teenager Holly Patterson, who died after taking the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug in September 2003, discussed the lawsuit they filed against the maker of the abortion drug with a local newspaper.

In an interview with the Contra Costa Times, the Pattersons said the lawsuit is their latest effort to draw attention to the risks associated with mifepristone.

"We've basically been doing a lot of work all year to bring about awareness and question the safety of this drug, and have been working on a lot of fronts," Holly's father Monty Patterson told the newspaper.

He said he and his wife Deborah are not filing the suit for money or fame. Instead, the lawsuit follows a long line of actions out of concern that the abortion drug is unsafe.

The Pattersons submitted a letter to Congress backing legislation to prevent further sales of the drug while it thoroughly investigates safety issues. Monty Patterson also met with FDA officials prior to the agency revising warning labels on the drug packaging.

"I don't think this drug is safe, and if it's not, it needs to be removed," Patterson added.

Deborah Patterson said she is worried about how the abortion drug, sold as Mifeprex, has already killed three women.

"[A] fourth one is unacceptable," she told the Times.

The Pattersons filed wrongful death and product liability lawsuits against New York-based Danco Laboratories and a Planned Parenthood abortion facility near San Francisco that gave Holly the drugs.

Holly Patterson reported severe pain and bleeding afterwards and died days later at a local hospital.

Pro-life groups say the lawsuit is appropriate.

"This is a well-deserved lawsuit against those allegedly responsible for a young woman's tragic death," said Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America.

"Holly Patterson paid the ultimate price for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) buckling to abortion proponents' pressure to approve a drug that has only one purpose -- to kill a human being," Wright added.

The Patterson's lawsuit, filed in Alameda County Superior Court, says Danco failed to properly warn doctors of the potential dangers of Mifeprex.

lawsuit also names the Population Council, a pro-abortion group holding the patent rights to the drug and ValleyCare Health System, which operates the hospital where Patterson died.

Wright accuses the Population Council of conducting "substandard, biased trials on RU-486."

"Danco knowingly distributes it to abortionists that violate the requirements, and Planned Parenthood treats women like Holly as collateral damage in their pursuit of more abortions," said Wright, whose group filed a citizens petition with the Food and Drug Administration asking it to pull the abortion drug from the market pending review.

The FDA has received 676 reports of problems resulting from the abortion drug, including three deaths, seventeen potentially fatal ectopic pregnancies, and seven women had serious infections like the one that led to the death of Holly Patterson.

That prompted the agency to revise the already significant "black box" warning label placed on the drugs to include new information.

[nickcarraway]

Holly Patterson

[anniegetyourgun]

I'm so glad this family has filed this suit. You just know Holly isn't the only one damaged by this drug regimen. Abortion always hurts women - but this method is particularly dangerous. Where are those feminists who screamed bloody murder over breast implants now? Remarkably silent.....and therefore complicit with the bloody abortion industry. They really hate women.

[conshack]

This death is a tragedy, however if the parents had made this kind of effort in preventing this girl from getting pregnant in the first place, we wouldn't be hearing about this.
I am anti-abortion by any means, but kids will be kids.

[gov_bean_ counter]

How long before the Dems accuse the family of exploiting a tragedy for political gain, unlike the Jersey girls or Sara Brady who simply want to right obvious wrongs (sarcasm on the last part).

[Mr. Lucky]

Were the parents unaware of their daughter's pregnancy? This article doesn't mention whether they knew their daughter had taken RU-486.

They would be somewhat less admirable had they intended to cause the death of their grandchild and were now upset because both their grandchild and daughter died.

[stm]

"Pro-life groups say the lawsuit is appropriate"

I don't see how the pro-life people can say this is appropriate. It is tragic that this poor girl died just weeks after her 18th birthday. She had her whole life ahead of her. But did she not take this pill to end a pregancy? Did she not die of septic shock when she started expelling the fetus from her body? She wasn't married. She got pregnant and chose the "easy" way out....murdering the unborn. She didn't buy this drug from a street pusher, she got it from a Planned Parenthood clinic, the very antithesis of the pro-life movement.

And they can't blame this one on President Bush either, Klintoon was the one that pushed this drug through.

[anniegetyourgun]

They will do that - if they give the story any play at all. That seems to be the way of the Left and their friends in the media - to ignore such stories that don't fit their abortion-at-all-costs viewpoint.

[anniegetyourgun]

I recall the death when it happened and it was reported to be unknown to family that she had started the process. (Remember, this isn't just a one-pill kind of quick procedure, despite what Planned Parenthood, NARAL, etc. want people to think.)

[the Deejay]

How sad this lovely young woman died.

Holly should have taken "the pill," before she needed to take the "RU 486 abortion drug."

The guy should have used a condom.

Holly could have chosen to have the baby.

Either way, Holly would be alive today.

[MAKOTHEDOG]

Summed up my thoughts perfectly.

[giotto]

I don't believe the parents even knew she was pregnant. They only learned of it when she became deathly ill; they then rushed her to the hospital where she died a short time later.

[Mark was here]

"I don't think this drug is safe, and if it's not, it needs to be removed," Patterson added.

All I can say this guy is sure a dope, the drug is meant to cause death... that this death in a pill turned on a co-conspirator, is justice in a certain sense.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

I read the original article a long time ago but I don't think the parents were aware. The girl and her boyfriend went to get things "taken care of" by the "medical" center where these ghouls dispense deadly drugs. Very sad story.

[Jacquerie]

The FDA has received 676 reports of problems resulting from the abortion drug, including three deaths . . .

This of course is not news to the MSM, National Pali Radio, NYT, LAT etc.

[pennyfarmer]

"Holly Patterson paid the ultimate price for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) buckling to abortion proponents' pressure to approve a drug that has only one purpose -- to kill a human being," Wright added.

Exactly what you said. This drug done its intended deed. Sometimes when you pull the trigger the bullet misses its mark. I agree this is tragic but many people try to escape the consequences of their "choices".

Pro-abortionists think there is a never ending string of choices to be made, but their choices always end in death.

[Desdemona]

Holly should have said no. It is acceptable.

[so_real]

This lovely young woman with her whole life ahead of her took a pill designed to kill the life inside her ... and died right along with the child. On the one hand, it's sad to see her go. On the other hand, if abortion resulted in the death of the mother too, there would be fewer mothers considering it.

[the Deejay]

Holly should have said no. It is acceptable.

Well yes, that too.

(In my day.....I always did.)

[jocon307]

"Where are those feminists who screamed bloody murder over breast implants now? Remarkably silent.....and therefore complicit with the bloody abortion industry. They really hate women."

You said it Annie!

[American Vet Repairman]

Here are a few side effects that were in the clinical trial. It is a safe drug for our kids (sic).

Abdominal Pain (cramping)


Uterine cramping


Nausea


Headache


Vomiting


Diarrhea


Dizziness


Fatigue


Back pain


Uterine hemorrhage


Fever

Viral infections


Vaginitis


Rigors (chills/shaking)


Dyspepsia


Insomnia


Asthenia


Leg pain


Anxiety


Anemia


Leukorrhea


Sinusitis


Syncope