While the abortion pill RU-486 has been effective at killing unborn babies, the deaths of seven women (including two recently) have increased the calls for banning the drug.
The group that is most to blame in the tragic deaths of these women is Planned Parenthood. The abortion advocate began recommending that women insert the pill vaginally, instead of taking it orally per the FDA-approved instructions. Four of the victims, including the most recent ones, received the pills at Planned Parenthood clinics.
What would happen in any other issue if an outside organization began telling clients to take a drug differently than perscribed by the FDA? Planned Parenthood should be forced to answer tough questions about their complicity in the deaths of these women, but they won’t even be asked. They should be investigated, but no one will.
Aaron,
Considering how badly, and willingly, the FDA has ROUTINELY screwed things up, it seems like trusting them is just as stupid.
Are you aware of the mortality rate of women who bring their pregnacies to term?
I don't know what the maternal mortality rate, but the mortality rate for aborted infants is >90%.
In 2000, WHO estimated that over 500000 women died worldwide due to "maternal causes". However, a significant portion of these are not caused by pregnancy, but by things like malnutrition, anemia, insufficient medical care, botched abortions, and the ritual genital mutilation of females, among other factors. As pro-lifers used to say, pregnancy is not the problem, abortion is not the answer. It's just a crappy short term solution that uses the ends to justify the often murderous means.
Even birth control is just a band aid near the tail end of the chain of events (like malnutrition, poor medical care, barbaric rituals, and promiscuity).
Clever clever Seeker,
I will never understand how people can be cautious about the idea of birth control. I've said it before, I'll say it again, and I'll repeat it a thousand time: properly used birth control would plunge the abortion rate through the floor. The only reason that we don't see properly used conception is because, for (some) Christians, the issue isn't life, but sex, and how dirty and awful and horrible sex is, particularly outside of marriage.
That's why (some) Christians oppose birth control.
That's why (some) Christians oppose the HPV vaccine.
That's why (some) Christians oppose an AIDS vaccine.
The notion that people could have enjoyable sex outside of the bonds (shackles?) of Christianity is just too much for people. And that's a sad, sad, sad state of affairs, particularly if you've ever had a family member die of either AIDS or the cancer that the HPV vaccine apparently blocks.
Sam,
While I vehemently defend sexual freedoms, and agree with you that greater contraceptive use would vastly reduce the number of abortions, I disagree with you on the reasons why.
While the social and political actions of Christians undoubtably prevent some from using contraceptives, I would say that ignorance, booze and inconvenience probably have an even larger impact on them not being used. It is because of these reasons that the majority of abortions happen, not due to Christians promoting abstinence… and, as much as I am in favor of reproductive rights, I believe it is cruel and incredibly irresponsible to have an abortion for those reasons.
Abortion is a horrible, horrible thing that should never be entered into lightly, but often is. I believe it is this percieved blitheness which some women have them that inspires such ire in Christians.
I don't agree with the Christians on this topic, but I sure as heck understand their position.
How about the 25 deaths from ADHD drugs?
How about the 25 deaths from ADHD drugs?
Interesting comparison. I wonder, though, what that number is as a percentage of those who actually take the drugs. Same goes for RU486. These 7 deaths are what percentage?