Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Regarding the Jan. 22 front-page article "As Abortion Rate Drops, Use of RU-486 Is on Rise":

This story was informative, but there is additional information that potential patients must be made aware of. While the drug appears to be a quick fix to an unwanted pregnancy, its dark side has been hidden. For example, complications such as hemorrhaging, sterility-causing infections, the masking of life-threatening ectopic pregnancies and incomplete abortions requiring emergency surgery have been documented by the Food and Drug Administration. RU-486 can damage a woman irreparably -- sometimes with finality.

Regrettably, at least one Canadian and six American women have died after ingesting it. Now, as we mark the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, it seems only fitting that the term "right to life" should extend to the mother as well as to the unborn.

CYNTHIA L. HILL

Senior Director of State and Local Affairs

Family Research Council

Washington