Calls continue for suspension of RU-486 abortion drug

Published: 2006-03-30

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Members of Congress and representatives of various pro-life groups repeated their calls for a law to suspend use of the drug known as RU-486 because of the deaths of some women who used it to cause abortions. At a March 29 press conference, Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., led calls for a bill called "Holly's Law" to be put to a vote and passed. The bill is named for an 18-year-old from California who died of toxic shock after taking RU-486. The Food and Drug Administration in mid-March announced it will hold a public workshop in May to consider further research on the type of illness that has been connected to using the abortion drug. But Smith and others said to delay even that long would put more women at risk. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., said the situation is "a classic case where abortion politics trumps women's lives."

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .