- Intrauterine device (IUD) in place
- Chronic failure of the adrenal glands
- Current long-term therapy with corticosteroids
- History of allergy to mifepristone, misoprostol, or other prostaglandins
- Bleeding disorders or current anticoagulant (blood-thinning) therapy (FDA).
"In the United States trials, 92.1% of the 827 subjects had a complete medical abortion. In 52 women (6.3%) expulsion occurred within two days, and resulted from the action of mifepristone (600 mg) alone, unaided by misoprostol, an analog of prostaglandin. All other women without an apparent expulsion took a 400 mg dose of misoprostol two days after taking mifepristone. Many women (44.1%) in the United States trial expelled the products of conception within four hours after taking misoprostol and 62.8% experienced expulsion within 24 hours after the misoprostol administration. There were 65 women (7.9%) who received surgical intervention: 13 (1.6%) were medically indicated interventions during the study period, mostly for excessive bleeding; five (0.6%) interventions occurred at the patients request; 30 women (4.7%) had incomplete abortions at the end of the study protocol; and eight (1.0%) had ongoing pregnancies at the end of the study protocol" (FDA).
PROCEDURE
The regimen used in both the French and the Population Council requires three visits to the clinic and a fourth visit as a follow-up. During the first visit, the female must have a thorough counseling, thorough medical history examination, a physical examination, a blood count, and a determination of the length of the pregnancy by having an ultrasound exam. If the female is anemic, has high blood pressure, kidney disease, smokes, or is over 35, she is rejected from taking the RU 86 pills. Prior to taking the medication, the female must sign a patient's agreement form and, in some states or nations, wait one or more days (FDA).
At the second visit, the woman swallows three 200-micrograms tablets of Mifepristone (a total of 600 mg) and remains under observation for 30 minutes. The 200 mg are a low dosage of Misoprostol and are identified as Mifeprex. At the third visit, the woman takes two 200 mg tablets of Misoprostol under supervision and remains at the clinic for up to four hours. This medication induces hard labor and allows baby parts to be passes through. After two weeks the woman returns for a follow-up visit to confirm that the abortion is complete. Mifeprex (200 mg) followed by Misoprostol is approximately 92 -95 percent effective for ending pregnancy (The Early Option Pill). About half of the women who have their abortions during their second visit to the clinic, and roughly 75 percent abort within 24 hours after taking Misoprostol (Life Issue: RU 486 Report).
If the female has not aborted or if there is still bleeding, she will need an ultrasound to determine if the uterus is empty. If not, she will need a D & C (aspiration surgery). Some women who opt to keep their baby if the abortion failed will need to deal with the consequences for the reason that RU 486 can have severe disabilities in babies who survive the abortion, can injure and kill women, or can lead to harmful effects on any subsequent offspring. The French Ministry of Health requires that the abortion facility be equipped with an EKG, IV equipment, and a "crash cart" with a defibrillator in the event of a heart attack resulting from the drugs (Life Issues: RU 486 Report).
Legal Section
"As essential to American freedom as our right to think, vote, worship, work and marry, is our right to privacy. This very basic and necessary right includes having access to safe and legal abortion, effective contraceptive options, and quality reproductive health care. But unlike the other rights we expect as Americans, this is not one we can take for granted" (NARAL.org).
"Despite Roe v. Wade, access to abortion is increasingly tenuous. In its 1992 Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey decision, the United States Supreme Court reaffirmed Roe, while at the same time sharply restricting it protections. Anti-choice forces around the nation have accepted Casey's invitation to introduce and enact a cascade of burdensome measures" (NARAL.org).
"What's more, legislation passed by Congress does not allow federal funding for abortions for: poor women enrolled in Medicaid, Peace Corps volunteers, Native American women covered by the Indian Health Services, women in federal prisons, women in the military, and federal employees - virtually any woman who relies on the federal government for her healthcare" (NARAL.org).
"And while the House and Senate continue to make obtaining a legal abortion moe difficult, if not impossible, legally a nationwide campaign of violence, vandalism, anti-choice rhetoric and threatening Internet "hit lists" has resulted in a dwindling number of doctors willing or trained to perform abortions" (NARAL.org).
"The fact is, the need for abortion will never go away until we, as a country, can achieve two of NARAL (The National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League) goals: better access to other kinds of reproductive health care and information" (NARAL.org).
"NARAL's goal is to help find workable answers that will ultimately reduce the need for abortions. Ignoring shortcomings in access to contraception, reproductive health care, and sex education while ripping away a woman's rights to choose will only result in more unintended pregnancies and more abortions. This shortsighted approach is neither American nor life affirming" (NARAL.org).
"Until the NARAL achieves it goal, it is critical that those who value the freedom and independence we enjoy in this country work hard to protect a woman's right to choose. For now, the basic American right is seriously at risk" (NARAL.org).
"From anti-choice cabinet nominees like John Ashcroft and Tommy Thompson, to the reinstating of the global "gag rule" on the 28th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, President George W. Bush has made it clear that he will use his presidential powers to undermine the reproductive rights of the world's women. Bush continues to shed his façade of moderation and has put the policy agenda of the far right on the fast track" (NARAL.org).
"By issuing an executive order reinstating the global "gag" rule, Bush has imposed unnecessary and harmful restriction on women's reproductive freedom. This should serve as a wake-up call to anyone who thought Bush would not be a threat to a woman's right to choose. Bush's actions and statements have demonstrated his agenda to restrict access to reproductive health services for women whenever possible. He has clearly decided to ignore the will of the American people - a majority of whom are pro-choice, pro-family planning, and voted for a pro-choice candidate in 2000" (NARAL.org).
"The global "gag" rule restricts family planning organizations that use their own privately raised, non-U.S. funds to lobby their own government on reproductive health matters, a restriction that be unconstitutional if imposed here in the United States. The argument that U.S. funds are being used to pay for abortion is patently false. It has been illegal to use U.S. funds for abortion since 1973" (NARAL.org).
"Today, opponents of choice have tremendous power. They sit in county courthouses and on hospital boards. They run medical schools. They write state laws. They govern statehouses. And they hold the balance of power in the United States Congress. Even with the Supreme Courts decision for Roe v. Wade in 1973, nearly 30 years later the promise of Roe remains unfulfilled.
And in state legislatures across the country, the picture is not brighter.
- In 2000, 23 states enacted 43 anti-choice measures.
- While the number of anti-choice measures enacted was fewer than in 1999, the cumulative effect of enacted anti-choice legislation is staggering: 262 anti-choice measures have been enacted since 1995.
Until pro-choice Americans regain control of Congress and their state legislatures, the onslaught of legislation aimed at restricting women's choices and curtailing women's reproductive health options will continue unabated" (NARAL.org).
According to Davis and Blomstrom "The idea of social responsibility is that decision makers are obligated to take actions which protect and improve the welfare of society as a whole along with their own interests" McAdams (2001), p.90.
According to McAdams, while doing business, corporations can approach social responsibly in three different ways:
- Profit Maximization: The dominant concern lies in maximizing shareholders' interests.
- Long-Term, Company Interest: "Corporations take a longer-term view of profit maximization. They recognize the imperative of a strong return on the shareholder's investment, but they also believe that achieving that return may require heightened sensitivity to the welfare of employees, consumers, and the community. They often embrace the view that socially responsible behavior is simply the "right thing" to do" McAdams (2001), p.91.
- Welfare Maximization: "While profit is necessary to maintain the enterprise, these managers' first consideration is the well-being of employees, customers, community, and the like. For these managers, profits do not accurately and adequately measure a firm's contribution to society. Thus, they are measuring their performance primarily by additional standards such as employees satisfaction, working conditions, product quality, environmental citizenship, philanthropy, and so on" McAdams (2001), p.91.
CONCLUSION
While abortion and the use of RU 486 may be a challenging arena to address; it is our desire that society will embrace life. We believe that in certain circumstances we do not have the right to define a woman's right to choose how to manage her health and life.
The law clearly suggests that abortion and the use of RU 486 is legal. Current politicians hope to change or revise the Roe v. Wade case that currently allows abortion in the United States. However, if this decision is overturned, according to the surveys of the American people and the authors of this paper, a great disservice will be done not only to women but also to many.
Furthermore, the socially responsible section of this paper, we have shown how different groups of people are acting in a responsible manner while dealing with RU 486. The decision to terminate pregnancy is not easy and the ramifications extend to society as a whole.
In a perfect world all pregnancies are celebrated; situations arise when this is not the case. It is the hope of all groups socially responsible, to come to a resolution both physically and emotionally to assist those who find themselves in this situation. It is our fear that without the option of RU 486 or other abortion methods, women will be forced to find alternative methods that may result in death to the mother, deformity of the child or the inability of the mother to conceive future children.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
"Approval Letter Mifeprex (Mifepristone) Tablets," Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (September 28, 2000)
www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/new00737.html
McAdams, T.A., Et. Al. (2001). Law, Business, & Society (6th ed.). Chicago, IL: Richard D. Irwin.
"Mifeprex (Mifepristone) Tablets, 200 mg For Oral Administration Only," Mifeprex (Mifepristone) Tablets Label. www.fda.gov/cder/foi/lable/2000/20687lbl.htm
"Mifepristone Questions and Answers," U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (March 8, 2001) Originator: OTCOM/DLIS www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/mifepristone/mifepristone-qa.htm
NARAL Resources, "Federal and State Legislation," 2004: www.naral.org/issues_legislation.html
NARAL Resources, "The Courts and Reproductive Rights," 2004: http://naral.org/issues/issues_abortion.html
NARAL Resources, "The National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League," 2001: http://naral.org/about/index.html
NRLC.org. "Unresolved Issues Surrounding RU-486," 2004:
www.nrlc.org/RU486/RU486UnresolvedIssues.html
www.prochoice.org/Legal/Decisions/RoeWade.htm
Sachs, Andrea, "Abortion Pills on Trial" Time.com. December 5, 1994.