Posted on 07/03/2006 5:18:10 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
A LEADING abortion provider will trial an anti-cancer drug to terminate pregnancies because of delays in getting the abortion drug RU486 legally approved.
Marie Stopes International will run the trial in Sydney from next month and will treat 100 women in the early stages of pregnancy with methotrexate, combined with four follow-up doses of a drug used to treat stomach ulcers, misoprostol.
If the trial is successful, the treatment will be used at the company's eight clinics in New South Wales, the ACT, Queensland and Western Australia.
A conscience vote in the Federal Parliament five months ago stripped Health Minister Tony Abbott of the power to veto RU486, ending a 10-year ban on the controversial abortion treatment.
But Dr Phillip Goldstone, a senior doctor at Marie Stopes International who will manage the trial, said RU486 was still difficult to obtain.
"Though the veto has been removed, it's not readily available because no drug company has applied for an application to license and import the drug into Australia,'' Dr Goldstone said on ABC radio today.
"The process of application to the Therapeutic Goods Administration by an individual is a very long-winded process which can take months, if not years, and we have a drug that is available now. That's why we have chosen to use the methotrexate option."
The trial will involve women who are up to seven weeks pregnant.
Dr Goldstone said the use of methotrexate and misoprostol was safe and 94 to 97 per cent effective in terminating pregnancy - only slightly less effective than RU486.
"We know that these drugs have been used extensively in other countries around the world to induce medical termination and though they are not licensed for this purpose we know they are safe and effective," he said.
Methotrexate is one nasty customer. My father took it for mesothelioma and one of the side effects was ulcerations all over his mouth into his esophagus.
At the risk of sounding cruel...it will serve them right. How dare they treat their children like a cancer tumor.
Isn't that just what RU 486 is? The woman has to go in twice over a couple of days to get the drug in two different forms because each causes a different thing to happen.
They should shut this clinic down for administering drugs to women who do not have the medical condition for which this drug is usually administered.
Prayer will shut them down.
Try prayer!
Ah, well then. As long as its SAFE!
I do - every day!
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