August 6, 2018

Updated FDA reports at least 22 deaths associated with chemical abortions (RU-486 abortions)

For many years the only data from the FDA about the safety of the two-drug RU-486 abortion technique went all the way back to 2011. For reasons known only to the FDA, it noted an update to its numbers in March 2018.

In 2011, we learned that there have been at least 14 deaths associated with use of the abortion drugs in the U.S. (The FDA also indicated it knew of another five outside the U.S.)

The latest update tells us that as of December 31, 2017, at least 22 women have died.

“As of December 31, 2017, there were reports of 22 deaths of women associated with Mifeprex [RU-486] since the product was approved in September 2000, including two cases of ectopic pregnancy resulting in death; and several cases of severe systemic infection (also called sepsis), including some that were fatal.”

The best one can say about the report’s update on “adverse events” is that it is incomplete.

As Carole Novielli noted

In addition to deaths, between 2000 and 2012, numerous serious complications were also reported:

- Cases with any adverse event – 2740 (average 228/yr)
- Hospitalized, excluding deaths – 768 (average 64/yr)
- Experienced blood loss requiring transfusions – 416 (average 35/yr)
- Infections – 308 (average 26/yr)

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