Here's this week's reproductive rights news brought to you by the women of Our Word (and at least one of the guys!). If you see something you find relevant please email it to me, bayprairie at gmail dot com

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US Congress to probe safety of abortion pill

Washington, Dec. 23 (Population Research Institute/CWNews.com) - The chairman of US Congressional subcommittee is opening an investigation of the "abortion pill" RU-486, citing the death of at least four American women who used the pill.

Congressman Mark Souder of Indiana, who chairs a subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources within the Government Reform committee, has submitted a series of questions to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), asking for detailed information about the FDA's probe into the "serious health and public-safety risks" posed by the sale of drug known as Mifeprix, or RU-486. The Souder letter asked for FDA records regarding the clinical trials of Mifeprix, and especially the dangers of septic shock-- the cause of death for four California women who took the pill.

Early in December, an article in the New England Journal of Medicine suggested that the medical risks to women using RU-486 were much higher than previously acknowledged. Although the author of that study argued that the risks were still small, critics of Mifeprix said that the Journal study vindicated their argument that the drug was prematurely rushed onto the market, with FDA approval, because intense lobbying from feminist groups overcame pleas for cautious testing.

Based on the fact there are four unexplained deaths that are linked to a drug that induces abortion, it's par for the course that our vicious reproductive rights guard dogs in the U.S. congress step in and begin what could be the process used to put Mifeprex off limits to American women. I'm sure they'll do this whether or not the drug is responsible, which has not been determined by either the FDA or the CDC. The source for this story is a theocratic religious right site. If you read it critically you can find examples of the subtle bias they've woven into the story. One example being shown in the text citing the death of at least four American women who used the pill. There have been only four deaths, the use of "at least" implies additional unknown deaths.

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Survey Shows Unwanted Births Up

ATLANTA (AP) - More American women are having babies they didn't want, a survey indicates, but federal researchers say they don't know if that means attitudes about abortion are changing.

U.S. women of childbearing age who were surveyed in 2002 revealed that 14 percent of their recent births were unwanted at the time of conception, federal researchers said Monday.

In a similar 1995 survey, only 9 percent were unwanted at the time of conception.

At least one anti-abortion group said the numbers reflect a national ``pro-life shift,'' while others who research reproductive health issues suggested it might mean less access to abortion.

The report is available here:

Fertility, Family Planning, and Reproductive Health of U.S. Women: Data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth

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Here's some news on a lawsuit being filed agains the state of Illinois that regulates pharmacies that carry Plan B.

The rule in question requires pharmacies that sell federally approved contraceptives to fill prescriptions for emergency birth control "without delay" if they have the medication in stock. If the contraceptive is not in stock, the pharmacy must order the medication or transfer the prescription to another pharmacy of the patient's choice. If a pharmacist won't fill the prescription because of a moral objection, another pharmacist must be available there to fill it.

The American Center for Law and Justice mentioned in the article was founded by the theocrat and televangelist Pat Robertson.

Suit challenges state rule on morning-after pill

The American Center for Law and Justice said it filed a lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in Springfield that challenges the Illinois rule mandating all pharmacies in the state dispense the morning-after pill without delay.

The group represents five pharmacists who have been fired or suspended and two others who have refused to agree to dispense the drugs on religious and moral grounds.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich made a rule permanent in August enforcing pharmacies that carry contraception not to delay filling prescriptions for Plan B, commonly known as the morning-after pill. The rule is the only one like it in the country.

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In Texas news, from Waco:

State cuts prompt Planned Parenthood fund-raiser

Officials with the local Planned Parenthood affiliate have launched an emergency fund-raising campaign after learning their state funding will be cut by 21 percent next year.

The organization, criticized regularly by local anti-abortion forces, must raise about $159,000 if it hopes to maintain its current level of services next year, officials with Planned Parenthood of Central Texas said. If it fails, it will be forced to modify its patient load, they said '