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WHAT EXACTLYIS RU-486?

RU-486 is actually a drug called mifepristone, which hasrecently been approved for the termination of pregnancy inthe United States.

Mifepristone is used after the fertilized egg is implanted in theuterine lining.

It may be used up to 7 weeks after a womans last period. Thedrug blocks progesterone which causes bleeding and the

breakdown of the uterine lining.

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The FDA approved RU-486 for sale inthe UnitedStates on September 28, 2000.

This development of a non-surgicalabortion onlyadded fuel to a raging debate over awomans

right to have an abortion.

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RU-486 requires a woman tovisit her doctor three times.

1. The doctor must confirm the

pregnancy and what stage the pregnancy isin. A woman receives counseling on theabortion procedure and is given threemifepristone pills.

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2. Two days later, the womanreturns to take another type of

medication. This drug, know asmisoprostol begins the contractionsof the uterus. This in turn results in

the expelling of the embryo.

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3. The last visit takes placealmost two weeks later. The

woman must visit her doctor tomake sure that the abortion hastaken place

(Mifepristone:Expanding WomensOptions)

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PRO-CHOICEThe people on this side of

the debate and the

website,www.prochoice.com, feel that RU-486continues to expand awomans right to chooseissues regarding her reproductive health.

PRO-LIFEThe people on this side feel

that the embryo or fetushas the right to life, and

that life begins atconception. If this is truethen abortion is the killing

of a human life. It is not anissue of a womans right to

choose, it is an issue of murder (Jasper.)

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Pro-LifeRU-486 = More Abortions?

Many people who support the right to life state that RU-486will increase the number of abortions.According to Teresa Wagner of the Family Research Council,RU-486 will result in more abortions and therefore more

dead babies and injured women (Jasper).Laura Echevarria of the National Right to Life Committee tookthe same stand. She stated that the approval of the drug will

result in more abortions and new risks to women (Jasper).

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Pro-choice advocates tell thosewho disapprove of the drug tolook to Europe. RU-486 hasaccounted for one-third of allabortions in France though thetotal number of abortions in thatcountry have not increased(Snell.) Not one woman has diedfrom the use of the drug

according to Vicki Saporta of theNational Abortion Federation.

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Most of the evidencefound suggests that pro-lifers think that lifebegins at conception.Therefore, RU-486 isnot just the aborting of an embryo, it is thekilling of a human life.A popular pro-lifebumper sticker

proclaims that abortionstops a beating heart.This is true. A baby hasa heart beat as early asthree weeks into

development (Jasper.)

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The Feminist Majority Foundation is insupport of a womans right to choose.

The President of this organization,

Eleanor Smeal called the approval of RU-486 a total victory for the U.S women.She also states that mifepristone willreframe the abortion debate by providing

more and earlier accessmifepristonewill lead to a decrease in clinic violenceand an increase in womens privacy(Feminist Majority Foundation.)

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The Feminist Majority Foundationalso contends that mifepristone hasother medical uses. The approval of the drug will lead to much neededresearch on the use of mifepristone totreat ovarian cancer, endometriosis,and some types of breast cancers(Feminist Majority Foundation.)

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Side Effec t s

Both sides agree thatthere are certainphysical side effectsassociated with the pill.Some of them includevery heavy bleeding,vomiting, dizziness,infection, and many

others (Mifepristone:Expanding WomensOptions.)

Pro-life advocates thinkthat there will be manypsychological sideeffects as well (Jasper )Pro-choice advocatesthink that the privacyprovided by RU-486 willreduce psychologicalstress of abortion(Snell.)

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Why this race matters

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Two CandidatesTwo Opinions

Barbara Bush said in an recent interview on ABC, Idont think abortion should be in the nationalplatform. Theres nothing a president can do aboutit anyway.SHE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MOREWRONG!!!!!There are two candidates in the ongoing battle for the Presidency and either one could change the

face of abortion law (Why This Presidential)

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Al Gores website (www.algore.com) statesthat Gore is a supporter of a womans right to chooseand has opposed the gag

rule. He also co-sponsored the Freedom of Choice Act to uphold Roev. Wade.

Picture from official Al

Gore Website

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George W. Bushswebsitewww.georgebush.com

states that he is pro-life with exceptionsin cases of incest,rape, and life of themother.

Picture from official Bush website .

http://www.georgebush.com/http://www.georgebush.com/

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What Can a President Do?Pro-Choice PresidentCan:Appoint pro-choice

officials to cabinet levelpositions and to the

Supreme CourtEncourage new research

in reproductivetechnologies

Allow for the importation of new medicaltechnologies inreproduction

Anti-Choice President can:

Impose a gag order on familyplanning providers

Refuse research on new uses of mifeprestone

Name anti-choice officials tocabinet level positions and tothe Supreme Court

Refuse to allow importation of new medical technologies inreproduction

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As both sides continue the debate over abortion rights,and the right to life, the controversy will continue.Both make valid arguments for and against the use of RU-486. One side claims to care for the psychological

and physical well being of the woman, and the other cares about her right to reproductive health. Theissue over whether RU-486 is an option for you is apersonal decision. With the approval of the RU_486,women now have a greater range of reproductive

choice. But .

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with the coming years, will that choicestill be available? Which road willreproductive health take?

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Works CitedAbortion-Rights Leaders Fight FDA Limits on RU-486. Wall

Street Journal. 13 June2000: B6.

Feminist Majority Foundation Declares Victory in 12-Year Campaign to Bring RU-486

to the United States. US Newswire. Sept. 28, 2000. FDA Adds Hurdles in Approval of Abortion Pill. New York Times.

08 June 2000:A18.

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Jasper, William F. Unleashing the Killer Pill.

The New American. 6 Nov. 2000.http://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2000/11-06-2000/vo16no23_ru486_print.html (2 Dec.2000).

Mifepristone: Expanding Womens Options for Early Abortion. Planned Parenthood.2000. http://www.plannedparenthood

.org/library/ABORTION/Mif_fact.html (4 Dec.2000).

http://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2000/11-06-2000/vo16no23_ru486_print.htmlhttp://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2000/11-06-2000/vo16no23_ru486_print.htmlhttp://www.plannedparenthood.org/library/ABORTION/Mif_fact.htmlhttp://www.plannedparenthood.org/library/ABORTION/Mif_fact.htmlhttp://www.plannedparenthood.org/library/ABORTION/Mif_fact.htmlhttp://www.plannedparenthood.org/library/ABORTION/Mif_fact.htmlhttp://www.plannedparenthood.org/library/ABORTION/Mif_fact.htmlhttp://www.plannedparenthood.org/library/ABORTION/Mif_fact.htmlhttp://www.plannedparenthood.org/library/ABORTION/Mif_fact.htmlhttp://www.plannedparenthood.org/library/ABORTION/Mif_fact.htmlhttp://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2000/11-06-2000/vo16no23_ru486_print.htmlhttp://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2000/11-06-2000/vo16no23_ru486_print.htmlhttp://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2000/11-06-2000/vo16no23_ru486_print.htmlhttp://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2000/11-06-2000/vo16no23_ru486_print.htmlhttp://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2000/11-06-2000/vo16no23_ru486_print.html

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Saporta, Vicki. FDA Approves the Early Option Pill (RU-486) For AmericanWomen. National Abortion Federation-The Voice

of Abortion Providers. 28 Sept. 2000. http://www.prochoice.org/Media/09282000.htm . 4 Dec. 2000.

Snell, Marilyn Berlin. Tempest in a Pill Box. Sierra Magazine. Sept. 2000: 18. Why This Presidential Race Matters. Reproductive Freedom News. February

2000: 1+.

http://www.prochoice.org/Media/09282000.htmhttp://www.prochoice.org/Media/09282000.htmhttp://www.prochoice.org/Media/09282000.htmhttp://www.prochoice.org/Media/09282000.htmhttp://www.prochoice.org/Media/09282000.htmhttp://www.prochoice.org/Media/09282000.htm