Jackson County Right to Life
Changing Hearts . . . Saving Lives
Rogue Valley Pro-Lifers:
In February 2010, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Oregon (PPF) announced plans to begin distribution of the chemical abortifacient RU-486 from its Ashland Clinic. Undoubtedly this will increase the number of abortions committed in Jackson County – PPF will heavily promote it and offer easy access to an abortion option which women “can do… in the privacy of their own home” (their words). We know that accessibility is a key to abortion numbers and with the gross misrepresentation which PPF has characterized the RU-486 protocol, we fear the worst. That is why Jackson County Right to Life has determined that picketing the Ashland PPF Clinic is necessary.
This is not a decision made lightly – no one wants to picket – but it is a measured response to a terrible situation that has developed. And while there is much background behind PPF’s decision to offer RU-486, the bottom line for the right- to- life movement is that distribution of RU-486 represents a significant effort to increase abortions and revenues for PPF. Our community needs to know the truth about this method of abortion and we need to change the mind of women who are in crisis pregnancies.
OUR PLAN IS AS FOLLOWS: We will picket the Ashland clinic, located at 1532 Siskiyou Blvd (near the corner of Siskiyou and Walker), on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 12 noon to 2 pm, beginning June 15th. By picketing only once a month we are hoping more Pro-Lifers will be willing to interrupt their daily schedules and we will have a large turnout. We will picket on the opposite side of the street from the clinic. The picket will be RU-486 specific, that is, we are asking all of you to create your own sign, a sign that presents one fact about RU-486 in short and bold statements. We will refer to this as an “info-picket”. At the end of this letter is a fairly long list of RU-486 facts that the public needs to know since they won’t hear them from PPF or the media. If each of us picks a fact from the list and prepares it in the form of a picket sign, we expect that many eyes will be opened to the myriad of “secret” facts about the true nature of RU-486 and what it really does. We will also prepare the list as a handout to pass out to folks walking by. Finally, we will inform the media (as well as the police) of our intentions on the morning of each month’s picket. I would respectfully ask that no graphic images be included in this picket.
(For comprehensive information on RU-486 click here)
Folks, I realize this is a lot of work and an inconvenience. But it must be done. I don’t want to preach, it really shouldn’t be necessary, so won’t you please right now purposefully set aside 2 hours on June 15th (and every 3rd Tuesday of the month) to picket and help get the word out about this abomination in Ashland? Please call me with any questions you have – 821-4773. Read the list, pick out a fact that you can make into a picket sign and we will see you on the sidewalk at noon!
Bryan Platt
Jackson County Right to Life
· RU-486 is a powerful artificial steroid which kills the developing child by starvation
· Its only approved use in the is for aborting a confirmed pregnancy
· RU486 is to be administered between the 5th and 7th week of pregnancy. The baby’s nervous system is forming and it is likely the heart is beating
· At 7 weeks, facial features, arms and legs are distinguishable
· RU486 tests indicate it as a useful tool in treating endometriosis, fibroids, breast cancer, and certain non-malignant brain tumors. But its only approved use is abortion.
· An RU-486 abortion requires a second drug - a prostaglandin, Misoprostol (brand name Cytotec) – to expel the dead child from the womb by causing contractions
· The complete protocol calls for 3 doctor or clinic visits.
· The procedure can take from days to weeks or not happen at all!
· Between 8% and 23% of women had incomplete abortions or did not abort.
· Unsuccessful RU-486 abortion efforts generally mean the necessity of a surgical abortion.
· After ingestion of the Misoprostol, the contractions begin – taking as long as 2 weeks to complete the abortion – at home, in the car, at work, etc.
· An unsuccessful RU-486 abortion without surgical follow-up can result in a child born with side effects from the attempted abortion.
· There is a long list of physical infirmities which should disqualify a woman from choosing RU-486, including asthma, obesity, adrenal issues, smoking, cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure, liver or stomach disorders, and the list goes on.
· Is RU-486 “safe”?
· In U.S. clinical trials, pre-screened women experienced hemorrhaging – one needed surgery, several needed transfusions. Without careful screening, it is likely these rates go up.
· Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and painful cramping ares common – sometimes so severe as to require hospitalization.
· Research cannot tell what long term physical effects RU-486 might have.
· Heart palpitation or heart failure is a risk.
· Women who have had RU-486 abortions tell of seeing tiny fists, or their aborted baby laying in the toilet bowl or swirling in the shower drain.
· Women have vivid memories of the encounter with their aborted child.
· Who is doing PPF’s medical risk assessments?
· Is PPF capable of providing surgical intervention in the case of incomplete abortion or severe bleeding?
· Do women have immediate access to emergency services while undergoing the RU-486 protocol?
· Is PPF reporting “serious events” to Danco, the supplier of the drugs?
· Are you aware that the FDA removed several patient protections it had considered just prior to final approval?
· What sort of training do the administrators of the protocol receive?
· Did the woman receive an ultrasound prior to beginning the abortion process to verify that she does not have an ectopic pregnancy?
· Is the woman required to remain at the clinic for 4 hours after ingesting the prostaglandin? Why?
· How much time is spent monitoring the woman as the abortion process begins?
· Clinics are not required to have any special training in performing RU-486 abortions, or recognizing and managing complications that result.
· Does the phrase “read and understood” sufficiently replace medical training?
· Lack of ultrasound testing can create errors in determining the timing of the pregnancy, which, in turn, may cause the process to begin later than recommended, which, in turn, may lower the success of the abortion, which, in turn, may increase the need for a follow-up surgical abortion.
· PPF told the Wall Street Journal that they would not necessarily follow the FDA’s established protocol, and has prepared a start-up packet that states such.
· RU-486 is manufactured by a state-owned firm in Communist China
o How does the FDA monitor the quality of the facilities in China?
o The Chinese manufacturer has been cited for various drug import violations.
o The manufacturer has used methods and specs that don’t conform to the required controls.
o The physical plant has been the source of tainted drugs shipped to the US.
o It is not certain that the Chinese formula for RU-486 is the same as the one that was approved and tested in US trials.
· RU-486 is distributed in the US by a small firm, Danco, which was financed in large part by loans and foundation contributions.
· Searle Corp. is the manufacturer of the prostaglandin Misoprostol, and has disavowed its use for abortion.
· The FDA approved the RU-486 protocol with Misoprostol anyway.
· The Misoprostol (Cytotec) label is inconsistent with this use.
· FDA approval was done in an expeditious and political fashion by the Clinton administration.
· A different company than the company that actually manufactures the drug provided manufacturing data used for FDA approval.
· German chemical manufacturer Hoechst AG was the parent company of the firm that initially developed RU-486. They also manufactured the gases used to kill millions of Jews in WW II.