Bush Administration Cracks Down on Illegally Imported Abortion Drugs
Source: Associated Press, Pro-Life Infonet; December 9, 2002
Washington, DC -- The Bush administration is ordering 10 prescription drugs to be detained at the U.S. border if patients buy them abroad instead of through their doctors, calling the medications too risky for
unsupervised use. Included in the FDA directive: the dangerous abortion drug mifepristone (otherwise known as RU 486 or mifiprex). All of the drugs at issue can cause serious side effects and thus are allowed to sell in the United States only under severe restrictions, such as curbs on which doctors can prescribe them and what patients qualify.
According to an FDA alert sent to the Pro-Life Infonet, the "FDA has determined that unapproved versions of mifepristone manufactured outside the U.S. are being promoted in this country for use to end
pregnancy. Due to the risks to the safety of the user in inadequately controlled settings, mifepristone should be considered inappropriate for release under the Personal Import Guidance." The only approved company distributing the abortion drug is Danco
Laboratories, LLC, of New York.
The Clinton administration hurriedly approved the abortion drug, then known as RU 486. Pro-life groups have called on the Bush administration to review the approval process citing women's deaths and other severe medical complications following usage of the abortion drug. The Food and Drug Administration noticed Internet advertisements for some of the drugs that entice patients to order them directly, ignoring the safety restrictions. It is illegal to sell prescription drugs without a doctor's valid
prescription, so the FDA is taking steps to shut those Web sites -- and warned consumers Monday not to buy the drugs in question over the Internet. Because some of the Web sites are foreign, the FDA also asked U.S. Customs officials to seize shipments of the drugs from abroad. "This is a loophole we're seeking to plug," said FDA drug chief Dr. Janet
Woodcock.
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