Posted on 05/11/2006 9:11:20 PM PDT by neverdem
Worried about a bacterial infection that led to the deaths of at least five women who took the abortion pill RU-486, scientists from the nation's leading public health agencies will gather in Atlanta today for the first meeting in 10 years on the drug's safety.
Scientists from the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health will consider whether the means of administering abortion drugs make pregnant women more susceptible to the bacterium Clostridium sordellii.
They will also discuss whether the deaths may signal the emergence of a new and more virulent strain of the bacterium that poses a threat to pregnant women generally, not just those who use RU-486.
The five deaths were confirmed as resulting from infection by Clostridium sordellii, which can induce toxic shock. The cause of a sixth death has not been announced, although the same bacterium is suspected.
Clostridium sordellii infections are rare, but pregnancy appears to increase the risks, said Dr. David E. Soper, vice chairman of the obstetrics and gynecology department at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Abortion experts have been at a loss to explain why four of the deaths occurred in California. Initially, the F.D.A. investigated whether the pills used in California might have been contaminated, but an agency official said tests had found no evidence of contamination.
Another theory concerned the role a dry climate might play in encouraging the growth of Clostridium sordellii, which lives in soil.
Some experts believe that pregnant women who take RU-486 with another drug, misoprostol, are more vulnerable to infection. RU-486 by itself ends early pregnancies, but the pill is routinely given along with misoprostol, which causes uterine contractions that expel the dead fetus.
After examining many studies, the F.D.A. in 2000 approved a...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Safe for whom. Sure isn't the baby. America, we're going to pay a high price for abortion. A very high price.
"Scientists Will Gather to Discuss Safety of Abortion Pill"
How ironic.
Kind of like lethal injectionists holding a conference on "reducing pre-execution iodine side effects."
We already are.
***
gee, I wonder if the conclusion isn't already built into this little "event."
There can never be a safe abortion pill. At least 50% will die.
"They will also discuss whether the deaths may signal the emergence of a new and more virulent strain of the bacterium that poses a threat to pregnant women generally, not just those who use RU-486. "
Ahh, let's not be so quick to blame RU-486 for the deaths of the women, even though the drug was not fully tested and was rushed to market because Clinton wanted a win with NARAL and the abortionists.
I agree. That the women had just recently had abortions and were on this medication should not factor in because it might just be a pregnancy risk in general. Best to not stick with the facts.
In Men, 'Trigger-Happy' May Be a Hormonal Impulse
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.