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  • AADD Moderators: swilow | Vagabond696

Availability of RU486 Abortion Pill in Aust

katmeow

katmeow

Bluelight Crew
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Aug 20, 2002
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Given that the Government will be voting on this issue in the coming days, I thought it would be interesting to see what everyone here thinks.


In 1996, conservative Senator Brian Harradine struck a deal relating to decisions on RU486, in order to secure his vote on the sale of Telstra. For all other drugs in Australia, The Therapeutic Goods Administration is in charge of assessing safety based on medical and scientific evidence. However, due to the deal made with Senator Harradine, the fate of RU486 lies with one person: the health minister, Tony Abbott.

For those who don't know, RU486 (Mifepristone) is a pill which can be taken to induce abortion, offering women an alternative to surgical abortion. It is already being used widely around the world, including the USA and NZ. An article a few months back (which I'll try to dig out) mentioned that some Australian women had been traveling to NZ to utilise the procedure.

I find it really interesting that Viagra was pretty much rushed through the TGA here based on the expected demand for it, even though there has been a larger number of fatalities after using it than there has been associated with use of RU486 around the world - an enquiry in Aust by rural doctors found that properly supervised use of RU486 was no more dangerous than using aspirin. But my main concern is the fact that Tony Abbott, who has already made his views on abortion very clear, has the veto power at present. Having an abortion is never an easy decision for a women to make and I think that Australian women are currently being denied access to a perfectly safe drug on moralistic grounds.

Australia's family planning body has released the following statement:

There is considerable misinformation on RU486 and its safety. Sexual Health & Family Planning Australia (SH&FPA) has reviewed the evidence.

RU486 is as safe as surgical abortion. It offers women an alternative to surgery and it does not lead to more abortions in countries where it is used.
Click to expand...


A conscience vote is due to take place on 9th Feb, regarding whether decision making power should stay with the health minister, or move to the Therapeutic Goods Administration.


Thoughts?
 
As you said, I doubt it will be allowed to go through while Tony Abbott has any power at all. I wish I could RU486 him.
 
It isn't a moral or even a political issue. It should be allowed or banned based on sound scientific evidence, by professionals at the TGA. It certainly should not be left in the hands of an MP who's views are based entirely apon a religious conviction.
 
^agreed. if this pill is no more harmful than legal surgical abortions, i see absolutely no reason not to allow its use.

did anyone see the doco on sbs or abc (i can't remember which) recently about pro choicers vs pro lifers in the deep south of america? it was absolutely mind blowing the tactics the pro lifers were using to try scare doctors away from performing surgical abortions, and that it's working.
 
I think women should have to go through the trauma of being in surgey when they chose to terminate their child's life. Not as a punishment, but so there is some weight to their decision. I totally disagree with the idea of an abortion pill as it makes the 'ordeal' too easy. It should only be available for women who have been raped IMO.
 
^ I agree with that to a certain extent but what about women in rural areas who don't have easy access to surgical abortions?
 
^^ Good point. I guess I dont like the idea of every woman having access to it. Some other exceptions I can think of would be women who need to have abortions for medical reasons (not including their children being diagnosed with livable mental/ physical disabilities - like Downs Syndrome). Like I said, the trauma of having an abortion is enough to scare the fuck out of you to make sure that mistakes are far and few between. The possibility that popping a pill possibly making the decision a less serious one, doesnt sit very well with me.
 
^like you said breaka there's exceptions to everything, i know a couple of young women who have each had like 3 or 4 abortions and still don't take precautions against pregnancy, but i also know women who have had close calls, had to take the morning after pill etc and that's taught them their lesson well enough.

i'd like to think that there's be extensive counselling required so that women wouldn't take the issue lightly.

and also, i don't know how this pill actually works but surely it'd still be a pretty unpleasant enough thing to go through? nausea, bleeding, pain?
 
^ Yeah that's what I was thinking. Although 'safer' I would think there would be much more discomfort than a relatively quick operation.

Surely the women would have to go through all the counselling as per usual... it wouldn't just be like pop down to your GP and swallow it on your way out the door?

Up to how far along can women use this RU486? I should do my own research rather than just being lazy...
 
i just did a quick search, this is the first one i've looked at...

RU486 (also known as mifepristone) is a hormone treatment that prevents the fertilised egg from implanting in the uterus. It’s usually used with another drug called a prostaglandin (which makes the uterus expel the uterine contents). Under medical supervision, a woman takes the hormones, and a few hours later, expels the placental and foetal tissues. The experience - called a 'medical abortion' - is similar to a heavier-than-normal menstrual period. For many women using it, it's more like having a miscarriage than an operation. It’s also cheaper than a surgical abortion.
It does have side effects – pelvic cramps and bleeding are the main ones.
Click to expand...
from here.

it does go on to say some women have to have a surgical abortion as well anyway.
 
the government makes it easy for men to have sex but hard for women left with undesired consequences. who'd have though such practice would occur under a male dominated, conservative christian government?

breakyaself- there will always be people who never learn from their mistakes and i'd much rather they never did than for their unwanted child to suffer as a result of having such a person for a mother.
 
This was a while ago, but I read in the paper that there have been problems with women's uterus' not cleaning out properly and then they become very sick when using RU486. Since it's primary purpose would be for women in rural areas without access to doctors, is it really safe that they take this drug without medical supervision?

I'd be interested to hear the opinion of a doctor, since I know there are some who visit this forum.
 
I'm just going off what I heard in a debate on ABC radio, but supposedly, comparatively more people die from paracetamol than from RU486.

And disagreeing with breakyaself I think the drug should be available to all women if they so choose as an alternative to surgery. Not only do I find the concept of abortion surgery frightening and demeaning, if it's something that may turn some people off aborting when perhaps they should (unable to raise a child properly due to financial reasons, drug addiction etc.) then it is stupid to illegalise non-surgical abortion.

I'm sure the monetary cost involved in using the drug would be punishment enough to unthoughtful copulaters and as Joannie has said counselling is something that should accompany use of the drugs.

My final opinion however would depend upon review of the science and statistics regarding the drug and its use. Oh and as for right to lifers...
 
Beatlebot said:
Since it's primary purpose would be for women in rural areas without access to doctors, is it really safe that they take this drug without medical supervision?
.
Click to expand...

I don't think it's lack of access to doctors that is the problem - its a lack of access to abortion clinics and surgeons. I'm sure you can't just order it over the phone, there would be contact with a doctor of some description. And I think it is actually 'supervised' to some extent.
 
I'm all for it as long as there's adequate testing of these pills at dance parties.

Oh... oops :eek:

From what I understand, what is being debated in the week ahead is a proposal to allow the Senate committee evaluating this drug to be given more time. This proposal is mainly being driven by the right-to-lifer's in Parliament.

Once the committee wraps up, it will report it's findings to the Senate and after that, members will be allowed a conscience vote on whether the drug should remain under the control of the Health Minister, or be evaluated in the way almost all other drugs are; by the TGA.

Even though Abbott has refused to speculate on the outcome, most observers think that it's likely the numbers will see oversight for RU486 being removed from the Minister.

My own opinion is that this drug should be evaluated by the TGA, like all other drugs. It's only ideology that would try to restrict this drug from being used in Australia since, from my understanding, it's fairly safe for use.
 
I agree with the above comments leaning towards this being wrong.

Looking @ it from the other end, anything that prevents a surgical procedure with the same outcome is looked apon with favour (in theory) and it would also free up busy day surgeries and in general ease pressure on the healthcare system.

However It doesnt stop the pressing fact that it would be too easy for women to have an abortion and feel differently about unsafe sex etc, but unfortunatly there cant be one rule for some and not for others.. ie: Being made available only to rape victims sounds good in theory but who can prove that someone was raped if they dont want to report it? Drs cant force anyone to report the crime or break their code of conduct and sadly I think people would lie

Hopefully something will be worked out :\
 
Either way I think the fact of the matter is that is a person is going to beirresponsible enough to have sex leading to an unwanted conception, they are going to do it regardless of whether they will have to have a surgical or a pharmaceutical abortion.
 
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