Two more women die after taking RU-486 ("abortion pill")

[GeorgiaDem69]

"Two more women have died after using the abortion pill RU-486, federal health regulators said Friday, in warning doctors to watch for a rare but deadly infection implicated in earlier deaths.

At least seven U.S. women have died after taking the pill, sold since 2000. The Food and Drug Administration cannot prove the drug was to blame in any of the cases.

In a cluster of four cases in California, the women died from an infection of the bloodstream, or sepsis. Those women did not follow FDA-approved instructions for the pill-triggered abortion, which requires swallowing three tablets of one drug, followed by two of another two days later."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11879204/

I'm a big supporter of this pill and its availability, but just like any other drug, if it might be killing people then it needs close scrutiny.

[WindRavenX]

1. I will post the numbers in a sec, but Viagra has killed far more than RU

This incident will be highly sensationalized. RU-486 is safe and has been used with great success and privacy for years in Europe before it was legal in the US.
Please don't buy into the fear.

[Warpy]

13. Very true. Too many men are embarrassed to tell the doc they're

taking that shit when they come into the ER with chest pain. There is an interaction with the first line drug for chest pain, nitroglycerine, that is quite often fatal through bottoming out a guy's blood pressure. I can't tell you how many times I've had to pick Joe Stud off the floor because he's been too bashful to mention he's been popping Viagra.

The safety record for Viagra is not a good one. Never mind that blindness thing, this stuff can KILL.

[GeorgiaDem69]

22. Sounds to me like

the patients aren't disclosing the fact that they are taking Viagra and when it interacts with another drug it causes a fatality.

That's a little different than the drug itself actually killing the person.

[Warpy]

25. See post #23

Thanks

[WindRavenX]

28. Which is what Viagra does

Viagra causes a large increase in blood pressure itself, which, if you are already cardio-compromised,can trigger several life-threatening conditions including stroke, blindness, and heart attacks.

[Maddy McCall]

30. Many men who died were young, didn't have heart probs, and weren't

on any nitrates (heart meds).

Indeed, this articles says that MOST fit my description, not yours.

http://psa-rising.com/medicalpike/vaigracardiodeaths031500.htm

[Dunvegan]

163. I've known guys in their 30s who've mentioned getting a "V-booster"...

...if they're tired and/or overworked before a "big date."

[RaleighNCDUer]

64. A drug that must be taken correctly, like any other prescription.

"In a cluster of four cases in California, the women died from an infection of the bloodstream, or sepsis. Those women did not follow FDA-approved instructions for the pill-triggered abortion, which requires swallowing three tablets of one drug, followed by two of another two days later."

[papau]

97. Viagra - As of September 2001, 640 deaths were reported worldwide

http://www.globalchange.com/viagranews2.htm

About 16 million men worldwide have taken Viagra. As of September 2001, 640 deaths were reported worldwide - but how many were actually caused by Viagra?

Viagra may cause a rare form of blindness - risk small with very few cases among 23 million users - first reports in 2005. Possible risk of blindness from non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy. This is a rare condition in which blood supply is reduced to the optic nerve causing permanent nerve damage, and research workers at the University of Minnesota believe they have detected a cluster of cases of blindness from this cause in men who have taken Viagra. The US Food and Drug Administration has also identified 50 men with blindness who have taken Viagra, but who also had diabetes and heart disease. However these problems with blindness need to be seen in the context of 23 million users, most of which have experienced significant benefit to their sex lives, and the fact that blindness is a known risk in those with both diabetes and cardiovascular disease.


Viagra may be causing a small number of deaths in men with heart disease by causing platelets in the blood to stick together - clumping of platelets is important in causing heart attack and stroke. Viagra increases a compound in cells called cyclic guanosine monophosphate, or cGMP. Majority of deaths associated with the 50 mg Viagra dose. Viagra deaths seem to be due to cardiovascular causes, 66% within 4-5 hours of taking Viagra in men less than 65 years of age, and who had no reported cardiac risk factors - Viagra study by Dr. Xiaoping Du of the University of Illinois at Chicago - Cell Journal January 2003

[dsc]

115. Viagra is taken by people who are way less healthy than those who take

RU 486. I have no idea if either pill is safe but I think a straight comparision of death rates is uninformative.

[Lars39]

2. How many people have died from Tylenol overdose during the

same time frame?

[papau]

7. thousands - but we do not discuss Tylenol and its ability at normal dosage

to shut down the body.

[EST]

15. I saw a number of 479 deaths from tylenol since 2003.

Don't remember the source but I do recall thinking about evolution self-selecting for intelligence.

[juliana24]

110. How many Tylenol users almost died by mixing alcohol and Tylenol?

No Black Box warning to let users know that they need to stay away from alcohol when using Tylenol.

Follow the money........

[Marnieworld]

3. dupe

[Marnieworld]

4. of course they balance this with the numbers of women who die...

during pregnancy and child birth. :sarcasm: It's not like the whole fertility thing isn't already loaded with risks.

[rexcat]

6. You beat me to the punch. Excellent point!

[GinaMaria]

11. you mean this?

The FDA previously has said the abortion pill remains safe enough to stay on the market. The rate of sepsis is about 1 in 100,000 uses, comparable to infection risks with surgical abortions and childbirth.

[flamingyouth]

5. It's not "killing people"

As the article states, the women in California did not follow the instructions when they took the pill. This is hysteria over this pill and just another front in the abortion battle.

[Marnieworld]

10. 7 in 6 years?

less than lightning. It's pure propaganda.

[flamingyouth]

12. Exactly

Way more people die from aspirin or Tylenol overdoses than have died from this. Pure hysterical BS.

[GeorgiaDem69]

16. First, as I said in the initial post

I support full access to this pill so long as it is safe.

However, it is total bullshit for people to mindlessly support this pill simply because they favor its availability. If this drug isn't safe and is killing people then it should be removed.

Oh, and the argument that tylenol or Viagra kills people is besides the point. Tylenol is safe taken in recommended doses. Haven't heard about any Viagra deaths.

[WindRavenX]

17. oh really?

This is from 1998:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/viagra/259737.stm

200 people dead from Viagra by 98. It's more than that now.

The bottom line is RU-486 is safe.

[GeorgiaDem69]

19. Whatever

"The bottom line is RU-486 is safe."

Tell that to the women who have died taking it. You don't happen to work for a pharmaceutical company do you?

[WindRavenX]

24. Please

No drug is 100% free of risk. Even Ibuprofin, common in most pain relievers, causes sometimes severe liver and kidney damage in addition to a rare (but fatal) reaction.
So while I am sorry that a few women have died from RU-486, it it foolish to remove it from the market.
Should we remove Viagra from the market because several hundredmen have died from it?
I'll await your response to that one.

[GeorgiaDem69]

34. I don't care if they remove

Viagra from the market. If people want to take a drug that is risky they should be able to do so, and often do. However, if this particular drug is dangerous then the dangers need to be fully disclosed.

I'm not advocating its removal.

[WindRavenX]

40. The dangers ARE disclosed

If you would read the posts, most of the women who died did not follow FDA instructions.

[Maddy McCall]

46. Yes. But we know what this is about, don't we?

Pro-lifers will use this as an anti-choice platform. Women won't even be able to make informed choices about medication, if the polemicists have their way.

[WindRavenX]

48. of course

RU-486 is a revolution in a pill for women. You can have your abortion from the safety and privacy of your home.

Which is precisely why anti-choicers *hate* RU-486.

I have taken Plan B, which I must stress is NOT CHEMICALLY SIMILAR TO RU-486 and does NOT induce miscarriage, and I was told, in person, about the risks. And given a paper listing exactly how and when to take it, and who to call if something went wrong.

[GeorgiaDem69]

How about

"pro-people not taking drugs that kill them" people. I'd fall into that category.

As I've stated about 10 times already in this discussion -- I AM NOT ADVOCATING THIS DRUGS REMOVAL. I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN INTERESTING NEWS ARTICLE AND THAT PEOPLE HERE MIGHT WANT TO READ IT.

[GinaMaria]

59. Read your own post #16

you do advocate its removal.

[EST]

133. Thank you for posting!

You've created a terrific discussion and I don't think people are attacking you, particularly, just presenting facts and contributing their bit. Please don't take offense-you did a good job.

[Maddy McCall]

43. It is NOT dangerous. No more dangerous than many OTC meds.

People like you love any anecdote that will support your position--and your position isn't even thinly veiled.

[GeorgiaDem69]

47. Once again, my "position"

which isn't disclosed is being attacked. Do you know me personally? Have we ever discussed my "position" on anything?

"People like me." Is that black people, women, kids? Since you don't know me you sure as hell don't know what "people like me" think or how we act.

[GinaMaria]

53. You are advocating its removal

If this drug isn't safe and is killing people then it should be removed. from post 16.

Your point has been that this drug is not safe (a false statement)and that as such should be removed. Why deny what you have written?

[WindRavenX]

61. oh no you di'int!

Now you done it :D

[GeorgiaDem69]

65. If the drug isn't safe and kills people it should be removed

or alternatively, if it is unsafe in only limited circumstances people should know about the dangers.

Are you arguing that it doesn't matter if it is unsafe it should still be available? That's a very worthwhile and commendable point of view.

[GinaMaria]

74. You haven't proven it is unsafe

It is safe when taken as prescribed. It should therefore not be removed, but people who close their minds to the facts should be removed from a progressive discussion board.

But please don't let facts deter you from your lie. It's in Black and White for all to read. You are denying the very things you have written. You are advocating the removal of a safe drug from market.

[Liberal Veteran]

114. Peanuts kill 50 to 100 people a year! Take it off the market!

And sue Jiff into non-existance for peddling a dangerous substance.

[Megahurtz]

131. Get Real!

It hasn't been proved unsafe! Read the article:

The Food and Drug Administration cannot prove the drug was to blame in any of the cases.

So it actually makes sense to you that people could get blood poisoning from a pill???

[LostinVA]

144. Then basically EVERY drug should be removed, including aspirin

Many, many more people have died from very popular, widely prescribed fdrugs... but nobody pulls those... why? Because it's not a political hot button. This medication is. Thanks for showcasing the politicization of this very needed, very necessary drug so well.

[Maddy McCall]

66. Next thread will be about abortion causing breast cancer.

:eyes:

:hi:

[MountainLaurel]

104. Snork!

I'm just waiting for it, aren't you?

:toast:

[Megahurtz]

134. Hey! That's actually a current Pro-Life-propaganda argument!

Abortion causes breast cancer lol!!!:spray:

Sure, that's why there's countless woman who have contracted breast cancer
that have never had a single abortion in their lives!:sarcasm:

Assholes!:grr:

[TrogL]

168. It's the law!

I can't find it right now, but there was an article last year about a bill that women had to be informed of the "link between abortion and breast cancer" even though the American Cancer Society has no such information.

[LostinVA]

140. Yeah, I'm waiting for that one...

[phylny]

39. True, true. Penicillin could kill me, even when taken according to

directions.

Can we take it off the market?

You're spot on WindRavenX!

[phylny]

35. "Whatever"

Why let facts get in the way of a totally unsupported argument?

[Name removed]

80. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SidDithers]

108. Plonk...nt

Sid

[Dunvegan]

21. Well, now you have heard of the Viagra deaths...and other drug deaths.

...these are Viagra deaths from taking the drug AS PRESCRIBED...the RU deaths were from taking the drug against proper protocol.

http://psa-rising.com/medicalpike/vaigracardiodeaths031500.htm

In an analysis of 1,473 major adverse events recorded in these reports about Viagra to the FDA, 522 people died, most of them from cardiovascular causes. According to the study's senior author, Dr. Kaul, the majority of deaths were associated with standard Viagra dosages (70 percent of the deaths were associated with the 50 mg dose).

[Warpy]

23. Here ya go

Heart attack deaths in men with no previous cardiovascular disease: http://psa-rising.com/medicalpike/vaigracardiodeaths031500.htm

Viagra and platelet aggregation, leading to stroke and heart attack: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2641857.stm

One site of dubious reliability (they have a penis enlargement section) cited 564 deaths by 2003.

A whole lot more men have died from Viagra than women have died from RU-486, in other words.

[WindRavenX]

45. oh noes!!!! FACTS!!!

:sarcasm:

Good finds Warpy :thumbsup:

[flamingyouth]

29. And RU-486 is safe when taken as directed

As is Tylenol and aspirin. I never said anything about Viagra.

Seven deaths in six years is a pretty safe track record, given that the people who died *didn't* follow the FDA-approved instructions for use. Also, these figures fail to take into account the fact that many, many women have been safely taking this drug in Europe for years, but it's been held up in this country by people who value politics over women's health. Like I said, this is the next step. The antis don't care about these women who've died, they just want RU-486 outlawed.

[leftchick]

62. like the tylenol overdosing

these women did not follow the instructions given them. There are instructions on Tylenol bottles saying how much is safe to take. Are you seeing the similarities yet?

[BlueManDude]

180. hit the nail on the head n/t

[flyingfysh]

8. how many died because they were unable to get it?

[GeorgiaDem69]

54. Straw man

[depakid]

69. Hardly!

Do they put warning labels in logic textbooks in Georgia, like they do biology books?

[IntravenousDemilo]

100. How so?

[Megahurtz]

135. Bullshit!

You think no one's ever died from pregnancy?:think:

[0007]

159. Please enlighten us!

[MadMaddie]

9. These women did not take the drug as prescribed...

they were supposed to follow up their first dose orally and then two days later the other two required pills...instead they inserted the pills into their vaginas.

The repugs are going to jump on this and exclude that fact...Why are abortion clinics recommending the women not to follow the requirements the FDA is recommending. This may be a screw up by the clinics

<snip>
Instead of swallowing the final two tablets, the second course of pills was inserted vaginally in the four women, a so-called “off-label” use of the drug that studies show works and is widely recommended by abortion clinics but does not have federal approval.
<snip>

I support this pill also...As with any drug...the instructions must be followed or serious complications or death can occur!!!

[brentspeak]

166. It's not clear if that's the case in the latest two deaths

The article states that -- previously -- four women in California who ignored the proper instructions died from sepsis. But it's unknown what the circumstances were surrounding the latest two deaths.

[SPKrazy]

177. Oh No, They DID take It As Prescribed!

They took it as recommended by their health care provider, the clinic.

An off label use described in the article, and recommended by a majority of American Abortion Clinics.

The problem isn't the drug, or them not following directions.

the problem is the directions given were for an off label use.

Were they told of the risks?

Were they given the chance to give true informed consent?

These are the questions to ask, not any others matter

[Dunvegan]

14. I think these deaths are due to not taking the other drug...

...that would have prevented sepsis, i.e. rampant infection.

I wonder why these women didn't follow the protocol with the dual drug therapy?

As far as drug-induced death, Vioxx caused far more deaths in a far shorter time.

This is a very small (albeit tragic) number. And compare seven deaths in six years against the casualty risk in any surgical abortion, no matter how early.

[GeorgiaDem69]

18. So, let me get this straight

because only a few people have died its unquestionably ok for this drug to be available? That's ridiculous.

[WindRavenX]

31. Is it unquestionably ok that Viagra is availible when it has killed 200+?

[Lars39]

33. No, what's ridiculuous is toting the anti-choice points on a progressive

forum.

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Lars39]

49. Please. You think we haven't heard this crap before?

[leftchick]

76. no it is your response that expose you as anti-choice

quite plainly.

[LostinVA]

145. Yup -- I'm gone from DU for a day, and see what happens?

[Lars39]

153. hehe

What's been interesting is that the in-thread spats have been "taken care of", but the post counts for the um, tragically misinformed one has been allowed to rise. :hi:

[LostinVA]

167. Yes, I have noticed that.... and that there's more than one poster

doing this today...

Yup... gone for the day and all hell breaks loose...

[GinaMaria]

36. Applies to anything

If you do not use a product in the manner it was intended and a bad result occurs, you have no case. That goes for weight limits on seats, warnings on floatation devices and instructions for perscriptions.

Follow the directions. As an RN, 7 deaths in 6 years is not a reason to pull a drug. You are naive if you think it is. Especially pulling it when deaths occur from not following the instructions.

[THUNDER HANDS]

41. boy its a good thing tobacco doesn't come in pill form

just sayin'

[Maddy McCall]

68. Pfft!

:spray: :rofl:

[freefall]

173. Have you bothered to read this entire thread. Almost every drug known to

humankind causes death in certain circumstances and compared with most other drugs the deaths from RU-486 are statistically insignificant. I personally think some people have been rather hard on you in their posts but you sure have been asking for it with your illogical, contradictory posts and stubborn attitude.

:yoiks:

Peace,

freefall

[UpInArms]

20. 7 have died since 2000 - hmmm

Period	US	UK	Other*	Total	Avg	Days	
5 	163	5	0	168	1.83	92	
4 	715	13	18	746	2.35	318	
3 	579	25	27	631	2.92	216	
2 	718	27	58	803	1.89	424	
1 	140	33	0	173	4.02	43	
Total	2315	103	103	2521	2.31	1093

Year	US Deaths	US Wounded	
2003	486	2409	
2004	848	7989	
2005	846	5944	
2006	135	311	
Total	2315	16653

This doesn't even include all the Iraqis that have died - how many 100,000?

I wonder if those numbers - just since March 20, 2003 - almost exactly 3 years, make anyone else wonder just what the "right to lifers" are thinking?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

26. People die from all kinds of drugs

as the posters above have said.

I would bet that you're anti-choice and are using this as another weapon in your argument, because you are ignoring the fact that Viagra and other non-controversial drugs have caused just as many or more fatalities.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WindRavenX]

37. never mind

edit

[Maddy McCall]

51. No, let's be honest. You're not amazed. You're just pissed that....

DUers so quickly and adeptly provided information that disarmed your arguments.

[GeorgiaDem69]

57. NOBODY has provided ANYTHING

I wasn't even making a fucking point. I was simply posting an article. If I was making any point at all its that people shouldn't take drugs that kill them unless they are aware of all the dangers.

I don't give a damn what Viagra, tylenol, flexeril, xanax, etc. do SO LONG as people are aware of the dangers.

[WindRavenX]

67. nobody has provided anything??

Dude, can you fucking read? SEVERAL posters have posted MANY LINKS detailing the hundreds of deaths from various medication and detailing the overwhelming safety record of RU-486.

I think you need to take a break.

[juliana24]

107. 20+ years and STILL Tylenol doest warn users not to consume alcohol

with thier product.

The combination can cause severe kidney and liver damage.

Who knows how many people have died by mixing Tylenol and alcohol, but its way more then what RU-486's or Viagra' death record is, thats for damn sure.

Follow the money..................

[TrogL]

170. Oh, geez NOW you tell me

[WindRavenX]

58. Maddy,

:yourock:

DU women will not tolerate RW bullshit when it comes to OUR BODIES and our CHOICES.

[Maddy McCall]

63. Hi-five to you,sweetie.

You engaged this person beautifully.

:yourock:

[Megahurtz]

137. Right On Sistah!

:yourock::beer:

[LostinVA]

146. Word!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

89. I should have placed post #87 under here instead.

Oh, and by the way: :yourock:

[phylny]

55. No one has to decide anything.

Reading is fundamental:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=195803

[Bridget Burke]

86. I saw that thread too....

I guess those who want the drug to remain legal are part of "the abortion movement."

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

92. Got that too. Ain't "search by author" wonderful?

[depakid]

73. Viagra makes more people than this go blind!

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-05-27-fda-viagra_x.htm

(I know, raw numbers) ;-)

[Dunvegan]

27. I had no idea that RU was so safe.

In pharmacutical terms, RU is virtually risk-free next to asprin, or any OTC drug I can find data on.

Pharmacutical companies are happy to accept dozens of death and call a drug "totally safe."

More people have died from choking on pretzels than died from RU in the last six years.

http://psa-rising.com/medicalpike/vaigracardiodeaths031500.htm

In an analysis of 1,473 major adverse events recorded in these reports about Viagra to the FDA, 522 people died, most of them from cardiovascular causes. According to the study's senior author, Dr. Kaul, the majority of deaths were associated with standard Viagra dosages (70 percent of the deaths were associated with the 50 mg dose).

[Lars39]

38. And *that* is the correct way to frame it!

:thumbsup:

[flamingyouth]

44. Oh, you and your logic and facts!

:D:thumbsup:

[LostinVA]

148. I know! I hate logical, factual arguments

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HockeyMom]

52. My Dad almost died after a transufsion

from someone who had taken Penicillian. There are many more people who are allergic to that than these abortion/birth control meds. Should we ban those drugs too because of a few?

You have to look at the stats. Seven out of HOW MANY????? If the number are in the thousands, then the number of deaths is very very small. I am sure, as in my Dad's case, far more people in this country would have a severe reaction or DEATH for a number of medications, if not even common FOODS.

[depakid]

56. Do you think maybe there's a reason that MSRNC is promoting

this story?

Would they ever report like this on other pharmaceuticals that were responsible for two adverse events (7 total) that may or may not be related?

What, and risk offending their sponsors?

[Dunvegan]

94. And that's the right way to frame that issue: RU isn't advertised.

Plus, it's a favorite whipping post of the right wing...a safe "base-oriented" whipping post for the MSM.

No adverts? No religious right / political right support? New anti-abortion laws sweeping the states?

RU smack-down time for the MSM!

[HuffleClaw]

60. and EVERY death from this is TRUMPETED by the right wing media

though people die every day from other drugs. gee, i wonder why?

[shance]

70. Here we go!! Paying journalists to push lies that will ban RU 486.

You knew this was coming.

The one thing they aren't is creative.

[WindRavenX]

72. or even able to handle facts

Over 200 men have died from Viagra, but nary a peep.

Same BS with Plan B.

[shance]

119. Wow. Amazing the truth blackout isn't it?

And very sad. I hope people are filing lawsuits. What's funny is I never thought I'd say that!

[TrogL]

71. did not follow FDA-approved instructions

The Food and Drug Administration cannot prove the drug was to blame in any of the cases.

...

It blocks a hormone required to sustain a pregnancy.

How in the world do you get from there to sepsis?

[WindRavenX]

75. There are many different possibilities

But this is the one that is most likely, and why it is important to follow up with a clinician: RU-486 does induce a miscarriage-- if the tissue of the miscarried fetus isn't flushed out of the body quickly, a deadly amount of bacteria can result.

[Dunvegan]

95. Because...in RARE cases you can have a "toxic shock syndrome" reaction...

...like the over-absorbant tampons caused years ago killing dozens of women.

That's why the proper method of using RU includes follow up with something to block rare possible sepsis.

Remember that? My sister almost died from a tampon causing toxic shock.

Wow. Instead of recognizing the risk and addressing it...let's remove tampons from the market too.

Anything involving changes in the uterus/vagina can lead to sepsis. Including latex condoms.

Oooops! Let's ban tampons AND condoms...they've cause far more deaths to women than RU.

I appreciate deeply anyone's and everyone's concern for women's health...BUT DON'T LET YOURSELF BE USED ON THIS ISSUE, EITHER!

[geniph]

77. People die every day from eating shellfish, strawberries, and peanuts

Should they all be removed from the market?

Look, life is not risk-free. No drug - including herbal remedies - is free of risk. I think the vast majority of people already understand that. Pregnancy and childbirth are not free of risk. The question is, is the risk within reasonable parameters - in other words, at what point do we decide that even one death makes a risk unacceptable? Apparently, that decision is made for political, not medical or humanitarian, reasons.

A drug with a 1 in 100,000 chance of complications is damned near as safe as water.

[ecstatic]

117. more women are dying from taking birth control

So hopefully right wingers and the like won't selectively decide which drugs to take off the market.

[FlaGranny]

78. Without checking,

I'm betting this is caused by toxic shock syndrome. Remember that from some years ago? Women who wear tampons during menses are susceptible to toxic shock syndrome. There has been quite a death toll from it from women who left the tampon in place too long. So far, I haven't seen anyone calling calling for any more than a warning on tampon packages. The RU-486 already has the warnings in the packaging AND has not killed as many people in as many years as tampons have.

[GinaMaria]

79. iirc different organisms

TSS is caused by staff aureus. An earlier poster listed a different organism as the likely cause of this sepsis. Interesting thought though, especially since the people who died inserted the pills vaginally like a tampon. Certainly something to think about.

IIRC, TSS is most likely caused on day 4 of menstruation in combination with removing a tampon that tears the tissue enough to allow the bacteria into the blood stream. In TSS's heyday, the brand of tampons that seemed to do this more than others was Rely, no longer on the market.

[FlaGranny]

103. That idea was off the top of my head without

looking up the organisms responsible. It does seem, though, that both infections could be from a similar cause, bacterial infection due to the organism entering the blood stream from the reproductive system - which, of course, would be more susceptible in both cases.

[BadGimp]

81. Two more people die from picking their noses

I'd bet the statement is true if you go back to 2000.

[superconnected]

82. sticky issue

I'm sick of birth control hitting the market that kills people and the medical industry acting like it's some sudden shock. They are too quick to make a buck at the expense of womens lives. I've seen that way too many times. They pull it, but really they should and likely did know in the test trials. They routinely choose to put it on the market and let women die anyway, to make a buck.

The abortion pill is no different. If it truly killed them due to mis-use, I still think it's one heck of a dangerous pill. Unless they added another drug with it, I think it's a problem. Simply not taking the next 2 pills should not fucking kill women.

I'm pro-abortion, and pro-birth control. I would just like to see a lot safer products out there.

Deciding to sweep under the rug that some products kill women, is not the answer.

I'm not afraid of it being bad rapped. I'm affaid of women taking it and dying.

Ban it ban it ban it, if it's killing even a percentage of women. Especially in the way they are saying it is. It just aint the same as some people being allergic to peanut butter etc. They need to test further and spend more money on the crap they want to sell women. It's a product after all.

[Name removed]

83. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[superconnected]

85. What are you talking about?

I am pro abortion and pro choice.

Many women are pro-choice but against abortion.

Your generalization is wrong. This feminist finds you nothing better than flimflander, makeing up crap.

Guess you know a liberal who's pro abortion now. So you can drop your made up accusations.

[Name removed]

90. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WindRavenX]

84. SC,

RU-486 is tremendously safe. It's not killing even a percentage of people, as several posters have provided that data.
Peace.

[superconnected]

88. Thank you SC, I didn't read all of the thread.

I am learly about the products they put out for women though.

If it killed these women the way the article states, that scares the heck out of me.

My place is full of women, we are all capable of needing it sometime. It's not worth my nieces, sister, friends, lives. I'll pay for the traditional ones(again as I've paid for other womens abortions in the past) until they can explain that women won't die for missing the next two pills.

[WindRavenX]

91. the article is clearly trying to stir shit up

There have been some gruesome and painful deaths from ordinary OTC pain meds and cold meds...but the nature of RU-486 makes it easy to make it seem like it's a huge risk to take it--which it is not.

[Ratty]

93. Don't want to put words in your mouth, but still the same question

I'm pro-abortion, and pro-birth control. I would just like to see a lot safer products out there.

Ban it ban it ban it, if it's killing even a percentage of women.

I don't want to put words in your mouth, but you really would like any drug that has ever killed women to be absolutely banned. Women should not be allowed to take Aspirin or Tylenol? I'm guessing you are fine with IUDs and condoms but women should not be allowed to take birth control pills. Do I have that right?

[superconnected]

96. I'm comparing it to womens products. I'm thinking Norplant, deprovera

hey the 5 year birth control shot I went to get and found out was pulled off the market only 2 years ago.

The products can be safer.

For the longest time women were give 1 dosage of estrogen in birth control. That's right 1. For 90 lb women and 300 lb women. Now there's three main dosage choices most doctors carry. I had a long talk with my doctor about that and we both believe the dosages not being right are the reason most women have problems with birth control.

It took nearly 2 decades - the 90's, before there were 3 dosages.

Do you understand my point? The medical companies can do better.

If this one is dangerous, it will be banned, and ought to be.

I wouldn't start comparing depro-vera to say, asprin, simply because I wanted the convience. I'm glad it(depro vera) got banned. It and the norplant did bad things to women around me. This drug gets scrutiny from me because I've seen what the med industry puts out there - and I believe knows in it's pre-trials.

And I am keeping in mind that this article has an ominus intent behind it. I'm just unsure wether to trust the product yet.

[Karenina]

98. We're talking 7 deaths in 6 years

the majority caused by FAILING TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. You need to look at the number of deaths of Americans using ubiquitous BigPharma products AS DIRECTED and get a little perspective.

[Dunvegan]

105. Superconnected, Woman-to-Woman...please, please...

...just let us know

what part of just seven deaths IN SIX YEARS due to TAKING A DRUG AGAINST PROTOCOL (i.e., incorrectly, wrong, risky behaviour, etc.) don't you understand?

These figures makes RU the safest medicine I've EVER heard of...including ASPRIN.

More people die of peanut allergy that this. More people die from lightning strikes than this.

How more safe can a drug possibly be than RU? Show me ONE drug safer. One...just ONE.

If we go with your logic...then we take ALL drugs and ALL foods off the market ASAP. Now. All of them can cause death. ESPECIALLY when taken WRONGLY. Duh.

Kids die in larger numbers from inhaling hot dogs and other foods every year. STOP FEEDING KIDS NOW!

We'll all be happy to explain to you the incredibly simple fact (look at any prescription instructions you ever get, or any OTC instructions) that doing something medically contraindicated can cause you illness or death.

[superconnected]

109. Actually, I'm thinking about backing off it being banned with so few

Deaths.

I believe I mentioned that in my last post.

Why are posts being deleted.

[Dunvegan]

111. I think some posts are being deleted because Admins may feel...

...that this issue is so cut-and-dried obvious that they may consider pursuit of anti-RU rhetoric ...ummm...well, trolling.

[OKNancy]

113. FWIW

personal attacks as well. More posts are locked because of flameage than are locked for the topic itself.

[Ratty]

106. Depro provera got banned?

I hadn't heard that.

This drug gets scrutiny from me because I've seen what the med industry puts out there - and I believe knows in it's pre-trials.

Fair enough, and I understand where you're coming from exactly. My concern was only that if a drug is relatively safe, a well-informed woman should have the choice whether or not to take it. Considering how many people have been taking RU-486 for years, banning it, depriving all women of their choice to take it, would be cruel in my opinion. All of the evidence points to RU-486 being very safe--when taken as directed.

[Liberal Veteran]

120. No...depo provera is not banned.

[superconnected]

121. It was norplant.

Ive been drug through the deprovera - cysts thing, and the norplant thing. Luckily I didn't personally take either.

[TrogL]

169. Rule out IUD's as well

A previous girlfriend used one and damn near bled to death.

[Dunvegan]

99. RU (like any drug) is SAFE if taken as directed.

If you take any medication incorrectly (including birth control pills) you run a terrible risk.

BTW...if you're pro-birth control and pro-abortion...why aren't you looking at the deaths from both of those medical issues?

Thousands. Thousands over just the last decade.

Some preventable. Some not...just a sudden allergic reaction/unexpected reaction.

What's the deal with not buying into the incredibly safer-than-abortion-or-birth-control-pill RU medication protocol?

There IS a protocol that would have made the deaths from RU exactly ZERO. Many procedures are not just one thing, but a medical protocol. Do this plus that.

What's the mental block on RU sticky issue? This is getting deep into trolling if dozens of women dying from correct and incorrect use of birth control pills isn't an issue, but seven deaths from incorrect uses in six years from RU is an issue.

How many women who would have submitted to a surgical abortion procedure WOULD have died in the last seven years that DIDN'T DIE because they took the perfectly safe proper RU protocol?

Numbers please if you care so much about women's health. And if you don't have the numbers, I'll go and get them for you.

[Liberal Veteran]

129. Relatively safe is the proper term.

I am hard pressed to think of ANY medication that doesn't carry some risks. That includes aspirin, tylenol, antibiotics, NSAIDS, steroids, blood pressure medications, and even supplements.

[KitSileya]

192. I must object

You state that "The abortion pill is no different. If it truly killed them due to mis-use, I still think it's one heck of a dangerous pill. Unless they added another drug with it, I think it's a problem. Simply not taking the next 2 pills should not fucking kill women."

I must remind you that there are many drugs which can kill if the whole drug treatment is not finished. Something as ubiquitous as antibiotics can kill in the long run if a patient doesn't finish the whole regimen - it won't kill the patient outright, but it will contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistent bacteria, which do kill patients.

From what I understand, the pill that induces the abortion is not the whole treatment, it's part of the treatment, which includes the two pills to reduce chance of sepsis. One cannot say that the treatment is killing women if the women in question do not follow proper procedure - and even if these women died doing everything right, that doesn't mean that the product is dangerous. The cases are statistically neligible, because there are so few of them. Nothing in life is safe. There will *always* be people who will react more extremely to some things than what is normal - either because of genetics, like the one in 240 000 who get a headache from aspartame, or biology, or situational circumstances. No drug, no substance, no food, no drink, no situation is risk-free. There will always be those who, on that particular day, have all the factors lined up that something considered safe will kill them. The FDA considers ru-486 within acceptable parameters of safety. It is much safer than many, many drugs we consider safe for 'everyday' use.


However, that doesn't negate the your claim that proper (and enough) testing be done on potential commercial drugs, *especially* drugs meant for women. The pharmaceutical and medical industries are well-known for ignoring women in their development of drugs and medical treatments. That is something that is worth bearing in mind - it has only been in the last 40 years or so that they've been forced to take into account gender in their trials, so they still don't have as extensive knowledge of the female body with regards to trials as they do the male.

[Name removed]

87. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dunvegan]

112. RU is perfectly safe taken as directed. Abortion always runs a risk.

Birth always runs a risk.

RU SAVES WOMEN'S LIVES. PERIOD.

[Marnieworld]

101. Now this crap piece is on the front page of Yahoo

Vote it down people. Fight the lies.

[Dunvegan]

102. Thanks - Got a quick link to the Yahoo! article.

...because I'm there. In the interest of women's health.

Here it comes people...here ALL of it comes: anti-abortion states...anti-RU propaganda...NEXT: anti-birth control and FREE Viagra (which killed about 800 men when taken as prescribed...how many more thousands died because they were popping them like Skittles?)

[superconnected]

118. Excuse me for being dimwittedly slow

if abortion is banned, the RU will be far safer than hangers.

I wonder if RU can be bought in bulk on the web and stocked.

[Dunvegan]

123. With states banning abortion...to control women...next is ban RU.

[CountAllVotes]

127. exactly ...

You might wish to read my other post on this subject.

[ecstatic]

116. Who (wrongly) advised these women to take the drugs vaginally?

That is the question I'm wondering about.

[Nikia]

122. As with all drugs and procedures, clear instructions are necessary

Both in person and in writing. Patients should know possible adverse reactions, whether to be concerned about those reactions, and what to do if they have those reactions. It sounds like in these cases, someone told these women to do the wrong thing (insert the last pills vaginally instead of taking them orally). I do wonder though whether these women would have gone to an ER or family if they were having the reaction they did from a drug prescribed for some other reason or if they hesitated because they did not want to reveal that they had taken the drug.
Many drugs are dangerous for a small percentage of people. If you have started taking a new drug and have problems, call your doctor. If you are having a serious reaction, go to the ER and bring your prescription with you. I say this as somone who did have a serious reaction to a prescription medicine that has been on the market for decades.

[Megahurtz]

124. What a Bunch of Horseshit.

How could someone get blood poisoning from a pill???

The article even said:The Food and Drug Administration cannot prove
the drug was to blame in any of the cases.

What a slanted article!!!
Just another shitload of Pro-Life propaganda.:argh:

[WindRavenX]

136. it is possible, but entirely avoidable if taken correctly

Many posts are upthread with more details :hi:

[Megahurtz]

151. It just doesn't make sense

about blood poisoning.

It seems like to me even if it was taken incorrectly, there would still
be something else unrelated to RU-486 that would cause a blood infection.:shrug:

Anyway, these women did not take it as prescribed.
Anyone could take other prescriptions incorrectly and die from them too!

No reason to ban RU-486!!!

[WindRavenX]

154. well, as I said up thread:

A big reason for blood poisoning is that if the abortion either not fully completely or fully expelled--the fetus "rots" inside the uterus and can cause a buildup of deadly bacteria. This is why following instructions carefully (what order you take what pills) and having a follow up with a clinician to make sure you have expelled the dead fetus from your uterus is so important.

[Megahurtz]

157. Ugh! I see.

x(

Women could also contract this type of blood poisoning in States where abortion is banned!

What's a woman in to do in those States if she has a miscarriage
and the fetus doesn't naturally expell itself?

(Answer: Of course get the hell out of there!)

[WindRavenX]

160. yup

You brought up a excellent point that shows why abortion must be legal with no restrictions-- late trimester abortions usually require surgical procedures to extract the dead fetus. "D&X" abortions have been used in such instances.
I think people forget how dangerous and how often pregnancies often do encounter some difficulties.

[CountAllVotes]

125. RU-486 aka "The Morning After Pill"

RU-486 has been around a very long time. It's possible side effects, including death have also been known for a very long time.

If I was given an RX for RU-486 I don't know if I would take it or not regardless of the circumstances that led to getting such a RX.

It is a toxic drug no doubt and that fact has never been a "secret".

This is just more FEAR FEAR FEAR that is being spread with the ultimate agenda being to outlaw all forms of birth control including RU-486. The real target of this FEAR topic is to overturn Roe v. Wade.

It is a personal decision that should be made by the woman involved/affected herself whether to take this drug or not to take this drug should the possible need arise.

I really wish they'd GET OFF OF THIS SUBJECT as the possible side effects of RU-486 are nothing new! The worry should be about things far more important than RU-486. :grr:

:kick: I guess. :eyes:

[Liberal Veteran]

126. RU-486 is NOT the morning after pill.

The morning after pill is called "Plan B" and is basically the same chemical as birth control pills.

RU-486 is a combination of medications that is an abortifacient.

[CountAllVotes]

132. no it is not

The "Morning After Pill" is not a birth control pill! It is a known carcinogen and a highly toxic substance. When they prescribe this to women they tell them this and if the woman is pregnant from the night before, it will cause the zygote to die. So yes, it is TOXIC and YES women know this and it is aka RU-486 some 30 years later now with it's new "name".

[WindRavenX]

138. Sorry, you don't know what you're talking about

Plan B is of the same chemicals as oral contraceptive except it contains 2-3 times the amount of hormones in a normal dossage; it prevents implantation or ovulation. If there is already an implantation, it will not cause a chemical abortion.

RU-486 contains Mifepristone which induces a chemical miscarriage by blocking the active hormones needed to sustain pregnancy.

BIG BIG BIG difference.

[Liberal Veteran]

142. Exactly...Plan B is levonorgestrel and has been used in BC for years

Levonorgestrel is the most widely prescribed contraceptive progestin worldwide.

[GinaMaria]

147. Is this why the wingers are trying to ban the pill?

theoretically, if they banned PlanB, couldn't women take extra BC pills to achieve the same results? Is this what is motivating the ban on BC pills?

[WindRavenX]

150. well that's ONE reason

The other reason is they just don't like us wimmin having control over our body :)

[Dunvegan]

162. Ya think? Truth, that. An obvious follow on to the anti-abortion madness.

You have gone to the heart of the issue...the slanted and planted articles will just keeeeeep on coming.

Ya think? *sigh*

Time to fight the good fight all over again..."Kirche, Kueche, Kinder" my free female fanny.

[Liberal Veteran]

158. Not exactly...

Theoretically, one could take a massive dose of a oral BC to get the same effect (and I have heard about people doing just that, but I couldn't vouch for the efficacy).

The reason the wingers want to ban birth control is because they believe it to be an abortifacient because in the event that an egg is fertilized, bc also prevents the fertilized egg from implanting.

[Dunvegan]

161. Bingo. You win the "Occam's Razor Prize" for this planted article on RU.

[CountAllVotes]

188. it may have changed

Whatever they were dishing out in 1975 to women that were raped was highly toxic. I know this ok?

It was not prescribed readily because of the horrific side effects.

Maybe they have a "new" Morning After Pill, that is all I can think because what it was in 1975 was not given out unless a rather extreme situation occurred. :shrug: admittedly.

[Nikia]

199. It is probably better

From what I understand, Plan B is even safer than the extra doses of birth control pills to do the same thing, which are usually safe but can make one feel ill. I don't think that emergency contraception is ever associated with infections.

[Liberal Veteran]

139. ROTFLMAO! You are sadly mistaken.

Plan B is levonorgestrel which is the same active ingredient in many formulations of oral birth control pills such Seasonale, Lutera, Alesse, Nordette, Triphasil, Aviane, Portia, Tri-Levlen, Levora, Trivora...etc.

Given the number of oral contraceptives I dispense on a daily basis, I sorta have to know a little something about them.

[Megahurtz]

155. What?

:spray:

[Beaverhausen]

128. No, RU 486 is NOT the morning after pill

The morning after pill, which is really just a high dose of birth control pills, only keeps a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.

RU 486 does cause an abortion.

[superconnected]

130. Thanks, I also thought it was the morning after pill.

[Dunvegan]

149. Deaths from Depo-Provera

Depo-Provera is not utterly safe. Anyone who understands throwing clots and the mortality rate from that knows better.

Cervical cancer isn't exactly beaming health either.

I can get figures if you want...betting the mid-term mortality rate for some Depo-Provera users is in the thousands over less than a decade.

But still, it should be a CHOICE. An informed choice for each individual as whether or not to use this drug.

Caution over two contraceptives

Women's groups, such as the All India Democratic Women's Association, Sama and Jagori, and health forums such as the Medico Friends Circle and the Forum for Women's Health, maintain that Depo-Provera has been indicted for causing a climacteric-like syndr ome (premature menopause), irreversible atrophy of the ovaries and endometrium (inner lining of the uterus) leading to sterility, deaths due to spontaneous formation of clots inside blood vessels (thrombo-embolism), a 10-fold increase in the birth of Down's Syndrome babies and increased infant deaths. There are heightened chances of breast and cervical cancer as well. Activists of the organisation have accused Upjohn of suppressing and/or underplaying the life-threatening implications of the injectables and in the process misleading the medical community as well as the Drugs Controller of India. Studies on Depo-Provera have been funded by Upjohn or directly carried out by its bio-statistical division. The dissenting groups feel that given the large bod y of scientific information on the injectable, the conduct of another study that was part of a PMS was nothing but an attempt to mislead and misinform the authorities

[LostinVA]

141. Glad I was out all day and missed this one --

Y'all did all teh work already....

[WindRavenX]

143. it was nasty, nasty nasty

x(

[LostinVA]

152. Good thing -- 'cause it's St. Paddy's Day! Slainte!

And hopefully Mr. 70 post will post something tonight after I've had a few... or eleven.... Guinness!

[WindRavenX]

156. LOL

:rofl:

Have fun tonight, but always be careful :hi:

[LostinVA]

165. We have a DD - a friends who's a diabetic

[Dunvegan]

164. Enjoy your visit, GeorgiaDem69

...Nice to see new and sincere members joining DU...*ahem*.

[Mr_Spock]

171. What does your statement mean?

I'm confused?

[Dunvegan]

175. Oh...just wondering if this thread was started as a genuine issue...

...or trollage.

It happens, I suppose.

[Mr_Spock]

182. I linked here from a thread in GD by another DUer

I didn't even know that RU486 was being used in this country :shrug:

If it's just bad info, we can deal with that. If it's normal statistical averages, that's fine too. If the "alternate method" that they used is dangerous for some, then that's good info too.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

196. Search By Author will stop your wonderage. It did stop mine. -nt

[gollygee]

172. This is only relevant if compared to the risks of pregnancy and childbirth

because if the pregnancy continues there are risks as well.

Pregnancy and childbirth are far riskier than this pill. Therefore it is safer than not taking it.

[RagingInMiami]

174. Interesting how a thread on a story about the abortiion pill

Got immediately twisted into a debate about Viagra.

It's almost as if everybody is mad at the media for reporting that people have died taking the abortion pill. I would be mad if the media didn't report that people have died taking the abortion pill or any other pill for that matter.

And yes, that does include the little blue pill.


Oh, before you flame me. I am very pro-choice. But I also know a news story when I see one.

[Dunvegan]

176. I think that was just "flipping" the issue.

I haven't ever heard outcry about Viagra deaths.

But women's health and anti-choice is often debated.

Actually, if men are more sexually active, shouldn't women have more control over the possible outcome from situations where birth control fail?

But there were as many (if not more) responses that pointed out that foods/allergies/OTC meds were more dangerous than the RU pill.

Viagra use is also a choice issue I support.

[RagingInMiami]

178. But why did the issue need flipping before it could even be discussed?

And where is this "outcry" you're talking about? I read the OP's message. I read the article. It was just a presentation of facts, which made many people very defensive.

[Dunvegan]

179. I didn't say it "needed" flipping. But often cross-ex deals in opposites..

...to make a more vivid example.

Again, did you notice the posts on other facets of the issue that far outnumber the Viagra posts?

I alone mentioned all other prescription drugs, all other OTCs (which would include Tylenol), peanut butter, drug and food allergies, choking on food, Depo-Prevara, tampons, birth control pills, condoms/latex, abortion, lightning, and giving birth as health risk factors.

One can die from use, misuse, or occurrence of any of the above (and people do) in greater numbers than RU.

There are others mentioned by other posters.

Also, is it reasonable to address one more dangerous drug that enables incresase sexual activity, when increased sexual activity would statistically lead to more sex, therefore more possiblities for situations where birth control may fail, therefore leading the woman to make a decision of choice regarding pregnancy? It's not totally off the map as a mention...there is a chance for a small correlation considering this issue, i.e. more sexual activity/more pregnancy/more need for choice.

[RagingInMiami]

181. But nobody on this thread said that perhaps we should be more careful

with this drug. Well, except for the OP, of course, but then he got accused of being a pro-life freeper. (I don't know him from hell so he might be for all I know, not that I really care)

But last month when someone posted about people dying from Ritalin, there was a completely different reaction. Sure, a few came out and said what is being said on this thread; that you die from other medications as well. But there seemed to be a more balanced discussion.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2097391

To me, it's not about politics, it's about safety. I know I can die from liver problems if I down a bunch of Tylenols with alcohol. I never take it myself for that reason, prefering Ibuprofen. But I don't think it should be banned.

However, I do think people should be warned about this because I'm sure not everybody is aware that people have died from acetaminophen products. Even if you don't drink, but happen to have hepatitis or something, you need to be careful with that pill.

But nobody on this thread wants to hear about safety regarding the abortion pill. It's a very extreme attitude. And if I ever end up in a situation where I get a girl pregnant and she wants to take the abortion pill, I will ask her to allow me to research it on the internet before she takes it, just in case in contradicts with anything else she is taking. Just to be on the safe side.

And I would hope she doesn't go berserk on me and accuse me of being a right-wing, anti-abortion religious freak.

[Dunvegan]

183. My personal (just me) thought is that the appearance of this article...

...in the main-stream media, at this moment in time, is just piling on the anti-abortion movement which is taking hold in state after state right now.

The timing about a drug that many people took and yet killed less people than any OTC drug you can name strikes me as progression in propaganda to remove all non-pregnancy choices from women.

Why isn't the risk of pregnancy also a part of the formula in the original article? Don't we routinely (in medicine) balance risk vs. benefits?

Peanut traces kill more people yearly than RU. No threads on DU regarding "killer peanuts."

More elders may have died this week from the fallout of Medicare D.

Birth and abortion have a high risk for death in women. Any argument there?

RU? Seven deaths in six years. That's an amazing performance for any substance a large number of humans ingested.

Where's the balance?

If I can find seven people who died TODAY from Tylenol + alcohol + St. Pat's Day, will we see the same "do something now" concern? Will there be cries for this that and deep concern for the availability of Tylenol?

How about if I research and find seven women who died TODAY from pregnancies that they wanted to terminate within a few days of birth control failure, but didn't have access to RU? Would there be an outcry regarding these deaths?

Of course, the only caring and germane women's health message is: Take RU as prescribed, with it's attendant medicine, for near perfect safety.

That's what I take away from the data. I have another take on the appearance of this article.

Follow the trajectory of the catapult...follow the trajectory of the propaganda.

[RagingInMiami]

184. As a former MSM journalist, I don't really see it as a "conspiracy"

Not that I'm saying the anti-abortion movement did not have anything to do with this. It's probably what made the article timely. Also, it is a new drug that has only been on the American market since 2000, unlike Tylenol or peanuts or pregnancy.

I found it to be a balanced article. If they had interviewed someone from the anti-abortion movement, but not someone from the pro-choice movement, then there would have been a lack of balance.

It was just a straight-up article that needed to be written.

[Dunvegan]

185. Well, I'm a former MSM (writ small) journalist myself.

Director of Public Affairs and talk show host at a radio station years ago.

Never said the "C-word."

Did suggest trending.

And "propaganda" is a perfectly good word for a wordsmith referencing "slant."

[RagingInMiami]

186. So you would not run this story if it came across your desk?

You would say this is not newsworthy?

[Dunvegan]

187. Fair question. Yes, I'd run the story. And address the numbers.

I'd balance RU against the alternative health risks in pregnancy.

I'd report so as to give a more well-rounded informational article that might help a woman make an informed decision.

The last thing I'd wish to impart is a rather one-sided risk-only report that might scare women (now and in the future) from considering using RU if their birth control fails.

Especially when the risks of pregnancy are far, far greater than using RU.

Needless to say, the risk issue here is when RU is not taken as the protocol mandates. RU is exceedingly safe if used as prescribed.

That type of well-rounded reporting would do more service to my readers/listners.

After all, my forte was "Public Affairs" and my talk shows were all issue-based and produced in the manner of balanced debate.

[RagingInMiami]

189. Good

But you also know this is an AP story, and they rarely go into depth, if it's not handed to them.

The whole point I'm trying to make is that this is a newsworthy story, which will no doubt give fuel to the anti-abortion people. And that is why I believe people on this thread are so defensive about it.

I just don't people to get blinded by the politics of the issue if there is an actual safety concern.

[nodehopper]

190. did you read what you youself just posted?

it says these women did not follow instructions. ANY drug needs scrutiny. Infetion of the bloodstream can happen from anything, from picking your nose, from vaginal childbirth, from a C-section. I don't see why this pill should be monitored than any other drug assuming people who take it have the basic capacity to follow instructions

[LisaL]

195. Did you read the article? They did indeed follow instructions

of the organization that gave them this drug. The drug is being used vaginally, instead of orally, not following the instructions, for whatever reason.
"The organization that provided the pill to the two women said it would stop immediately disregarding the approved instructions for the pill’s use."

[fshrink]

191. If RU 486 wasn't a French license,

I'm sure we would hear much less about it. "RU" stands for Roussel UCLAF, a French, European, firm.

[Vinca]

193. No death is insignificant, but you have to weigh the number of

doses of the drug taken since 2000 against the number of deaths. It's probably far less than deaths that occur carrying a full-term pregnancy.

[w4rma]

194. 7 in 6 years? All from overdoses? That's not a bad record. (nt)

[BiggJawn]

197. Out of HOW many dispensed?

As has been pointed out already Tylenol and Viagra are more lethal, but then, those 2 pills don't "kill pweshush widdle bay-bees" (future Holy Warriors for BushCo's "Endless War") and in the case of Viagra, it will allow old neo-cons to impregnate their Handmaidens.

[HockeyMom]

198. Misinformation on the Radio

I wonder if this is being done on purpose? This was reported this morning on local radio, but at the end of piece the DJ said, "RU-486 is commonly referred to as the MORNING AFTER PILL." RU-486 is NOT the Morning After Pill.

What is going on here? They are misleading the PUBLIC. I called the radio station to complain. They are putting out medical misinformation.

You don't think our media is being CONTROLLED?