WASHINGTON (March 17, 2006) — Deirdre A. McQuade, spokeswoman for the
Pro-Life Secretariat of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
lamented the deaths of two more women from RU-486 abortions, bringing the
total of known maternal fatalities to ten.
“We are deeply saddened by yet another advisory from the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) that two more women have died from RU-486 abortions.”
McQuade said.
“According to the New England Journal of Medicine (Dec. 2005), RU-486
abortions are ten times more likely to kill a woman, from infection alone,
than are surgical abortions in early pregnancy,” Ms. McQuade said. “This
estimate does not even include RU-486 related deaths from other causes,
such as ruptured ectopic pregnancy.”
“After five years of trauma and death associated with RU-486, the FDA’s
response has been limited to health advisories and amended drug labeling.
How many more healthy women must die before the agency takes a close
second look at RU-486?” she asked. “We again call on Congress to pass the
‘RU-486 Suspension and Review Act’ (“Holly’s Law”) which will protect
women’s lives while the flawed FDA approval process of this dangerous drug
is scrutinized.”