For the last several years, the State of Ohio has been in litigation defending its law requiring that physicians prescribing RU-486 abide by the FDA’s protocol when dispensing the drug. On June 23, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the law should be evaluated by the Ohio Supreme Court.
Passed in 2004, the law was aimed at the abortion industry’s common failure to abide by the FDA’s protocol in prescribing the RU-486 drug regimen. According to the regimen approved by the FDA, a woman first takes three RU-486 tablets at a doctor’s office or abortion clinic. The woman is to return 36 to 48 hours later to take a second drug, misoprostol (a prostaglandin), which causes the woman to expel the baby. The woman returns for a third visit three weeks later for an exam to monitor bleeding and confirm the abortion.
However, abortionists are commonly misusing RU-486, directing women to take the second dose vaginally and at home—rather than orally and in an office or clinic—and completely bypassing any follow-up appointments. Misuse of RU-486 has devastating effects. At least eight women have already died in the United States alone.
Ohio’s law states that abortionists must follow the federal protocol in prescribing and dispensing RU-486. Planned Parenthood filed suit claiming that it does not understand what is meant by “federal protocol.”
AUL filed an amicus brief on behalf of physician members of the United States Congress, arguing that the law is not vague and educating the court on the dangerous effects of RU-486. That brief can be viewed here.
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i wasn’t aware these procedures that were being bypassed. Someone needs to step in and insure this is regulated accordingly. This is frightening information.