Archbishop of Sydney

Abortion Pill

By + Cardinal George Pell
Archbishop of Sydney
4/12/2005

News this week that the US Federal Drug Administration may restrict sales of the abortion drug RU486 if more women die after using it does not seem to have slowed up the push for open-slather access to the drug in Australia.

Medical abortion involves taking two drugs any time up to seven weeks into a pregnancy. RU486 kills the foetus and another taken two days afterwards empties the womb.  Life-threatening infection can follow if for any reason the second pill is not taken in time.

The hope that taking a tablet will solve our problems is surprisingly widespread, and the abortion pill, like the morning-after pill with which it is often confused, appeals strongly to this myth.  If only life were so simple.

Myths abound in the current debate.  It is alleged the drug was denied approval in 1996 only because Senator Brian Harradine held the balance of power in the Senate.  In fact, the amendments to the legislation were passed with bi-partisan support at least three months before Senator Harradine acquired the balance of power.

These amendments made the Minister of Health responsible for granting approvals, to avoid the situation that arose in 1994 when a junior bureaucrat approved the importation of RU 486 without parliament’s knowledge.

Since 1996 successive health ministers have declined to grant approval for the drug because of its serious health risks.  The current minister has continued this policy, but has been unfairly targeted for doing so because of his religious beliefs.

RU486 is a dangerous drug, and regardless of your views on abortion it is difficult to understand why anyone would want to see women exposed to its risks.

The former head of the drug’s French manufacturer says it is no quick fix.  “A woman who wants to end her pregnancy has to ‘live’ with her abortion for at least a week.  It’s an appalling psychological ordeal”.

In fact, the ordeal can continue for as long as a month.  Women need to be able to access emergency medical help for two weeks after taking the drug.  5-8 of every 100 women will need surgery to either end the pregnancy or to stop excessive bleeding.

In the US since 2000, 4 women have died after taking the drug, 72 have experienced blood loss requiring a transfusion, and 17 have had ectopic pregnancies, some of which have ruptured.

Women deserve better than this.  Do the abortion fanatics who are pushing RU486 really care for women?  If they did they might be interested in finding humane solutions.

This debate highlights the need for better support for women who find themselves pregnant in difficult circumstances.  We urgently need more counselling for women on abortion’s health risks, and the alternatives. 

Research this year has shown there is an overwhelming expectation among Australians that this counselling should be made available.  It is time for government to meet this expectation.