Wednesday, May 17, 2006
NAF Communications Department
202-667-5881
press@prochoice.org
Read the full testimony
Washington - Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation, today urged members of the House Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources to put science ahead of politics as they considered the safety of mifepristone.
"Mifepristone has a long and well-established record of safety. Major complications associated with its use are rare," Saporta stated. First licensed in France and China in 1988, it has since been approved in 36 countries. Millions of women worldwide have safely used mifepristone to end an early pregnancy, including approximately 600,000 women in the United States.
In testimony submitted to the Subcommittee today, Saporta said "The approval of mifepristone was not accelerated, nor did mifepristone bypass the standard review process for new medications." The FDA approved mifepristone following more than four years of review.
Women choose mifepristone for a variety of reasons. Some women decide to have a medical abortion because it is noninvasive and may seem more natural and more private. Other women have medical conditions that may make an abortion using mifepristone preferable.
"NAF is committed to ensuring the highest standards of quality medical care. We fully support scientific inquiry into the recent rise in cases of clostridial disease, including Clostridium sordellii. Such important public health investigations, however, should be based on medical and scientific evidence, not political posturing. Women deserve access to the best health care options available, including access to mifepristone, which has been proven to be a safe and effective way to end an early pregnancy."
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The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers in the United States and Canada. Our mission is to ensure safe, legal, and accessible abortion care to promote health and justice for women. Our members include health care professionals at clinics, doctors' offices, and hospitals, who together care for more than half the women in both countries who choose abortion each year. For more information, visit our website at www.prochoice.org
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