OTTAWA, ON February 19, 2014 – The League has written to federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose asking that the abortion drug RU-486 not be approved for Canada.  Opposition to the drug, under the theme “RU-4Life?” is the theme of this year’s March for Life in Ottawa May 8.

“The Catholic Civil Rights League upholds the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death,” the League wrote.  “However, the potential addition of RU-486 to Canada’s abortion options is of particular concern. Since the administration of RU-486 would cause many women to complete their abortions at home, there are safety concerns that are simply not being addressed. No public hearings have been conducted in Canada, either with medical experts or members of the public.

“ There are serious adverse side effects reported regarding this drug. The April 30, 2011 study by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) entitled “Postmarketing Events Summary” reported 2,207 adverse events in the US, including 14 deaths, 58 ectopic pregnancies, 256 infections and 339 women requiring transfusions. The number could be higher given that only one to 10 per cent of complications are typically reported to the FDA. A long-term study in Finland, comparing all early (gestational duration of 63 days or less) medical and surgical abortions between 2000 and 2006 found that while the overall incidence of adverse events was small, it was four times higher in the medical cohort compared with the surgical cohort. In the United States, the risks associated with surgical abortion are about one tenth as high as those for RU-486. In any event, even a small number of serious problems should be unacceptable for a drug with no genuine medical indications.”