A new study published in a respected medical journal questions why the World Health Organization (WHO) includes misoprostol as an "essential" medicine, saying it does a poor job of stopping hemorrhage after childbirth and is a possible abortifacient drug.
The Royal Society of Medicine published the study "Rethinking WHO guidance: review of evidence for misoprostol use in the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage" in August. The authors conclude, "Current evidence does not support misoprostol use in home and community settings in low- and middle- income countries" to prevent postpartum hemorrhage.
Misoprostol was originally designated for treating gastric ulcers, but has been used for off-label postpartum hemorrhaging and abortions in developing countries, explained Wendy Wright, vice president for government relations and communications at the Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute (C-FAM).
In 2011, WHO designated the drug as an essential for people in developing countries where it is difficult to get prescriptions after heavy lobbying by abortion activists, Wright explained. That means it's more readily available over the counter in those countries — but women who take it to end their pregnancies could find themselves suffering from life-threatening complications.
But after the study's release, "the pro-abortion groups lambasted the researcher and the study's conclusion," Wright said.
Contact: Bethany Monk
Source: CitizenLink
