WASHINGTON, D.C. (03-23-15) – As an Americans United for Life model-based bill became law, AUL President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest called the efforts of the Arkansas House and Senate, along with Governor Asa Hutchison, on behalf of Arkansas HB 1394, the Abortion Inducing Drugs Safety Act, “the kind of proactive, pro-life effort that saves lives. We know that women have died when given life-ending drugs recklessly, and in ways not recommended by the FDA. But the abortion industry consistently puts profits over people. Arkansas’ political leadership showed that women’s lives matter more than abortion industry convenience.”
The new bi-partisan law, signed by Gov. Hutchison, was based on AUL model legislation, and sponsored by Arkansas State Rep. Charlene Fite. “Americans United for Life thanks Rep. Fite as well as State Senator Jake File, Gov. Hutchinson and the Family Council in Arkansas for their partnership and leadership on this important piece of legislation,” said Dr. Yoest.
The law will require that life-ending drugs be distributed as outlined by the FDA, which means that a woman must be examined to determine how far she is in pregnancy or whether she is experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, and that she be monitored in case of life-threatening complications. The FDA has reported that, since the Mifeprex regimen more commonly known as RU-486 was approved in September 2000, more than 2,200 cases of severe adverse events including hemorrhaging, blood loss requiring transfusions, serious infections, and at least 14 women’s deaths have occurred. At least 8 of these women died from severe bacterial infections, and in every case the woman was instructed by an abortion provider to misuse this dangerous regimen.
For more on the health risks of abortion for women, click here.
