Thanks to the efforts of key women MPs and Senators from all sides of politics, such as Sharman Stone, Julia Gillard, Tanya Plibersek, Jan McLucas, Claire Moore, Lyn Allison and Natasha Stott Despoja (+ many others), there is a very real possibility that the restrictions on access for women to RU-486 could be overturned.
The Prime Minister has today stated that the Cabinet will consider proposals to grant women access to the drug.
NOW IS THE TIME TO GET ACTIVE!!
Please help by emailing the Prime Minister expressing your support for a change in the law.
Credit to Senator Allison, Leader of the Democrats who first raised the issue iva this speech in parliament and then obtained the support of various Doctors Groups, MPs and Senators:
Matters of public importance – Mifepristone:
http://www.democrats.org.au/speeches/index.htm?speech_id=1700&display=1
…and Tony Abbott will continue to traumatise young girls and women using taxpayer dollars to fund counselling services like this:
ACCC asked to probe abortion counsellors
The Greens have written to the consumer watchdog, asking it to investigate some abortion counselling services.
Senator Kerry Nettle says some pregnancy counselling services say they provide all types of abortion counselling but do not actually refer a woman for a termination, even if that is what the person wants.
She has asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to find out if they are engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct by saying they offer a full range of abortion services.
“They receive incredible support from the Government and I know the stories of 13-year-old girls who go to these services and are told that they are denying their child a place in heaven, if they decide to have a pregnancy termination,” she said.
“That has horrible consequences for the mental health of the 13-year-old girl who is dealing with a very difficult situation that she’s found herself in.”
RU 486 (Mifepristone) is also a treatment for breast cancers with progesterone receptors. Here’s one for Pink Ribbon Day:
40% of breast cancers are oestrogen receptive (Tamoxifen, an oestrogen blocker works with those)
60% of breast cancers have progesterone receptors (Mifepristone, a progesterone blocker has been banned from import due to abortion politics)
20% of the above are HR2-positive (Herceptin is now available but @$60,000 pa)
& 2,500 women die of cancer every year. Many other undergo mastectomies and chemotherapy (which has it’s own share of adverse side-effects) Mifepristone may also improve on those statistics. It’s more than an ‘abortion pill’.
This issue was raised in a submission to the Senate Inquiry into treatment options for persons with cancer:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/clac_ctte/cancer/submissions/sub103.pdf
Background and a poignant story from the US:
ABORTION PILL, OR SOMETHING MORE? THE FIRESTORM OVER THE ABORTION DRUG RU-486 HAS HAMPERED U.S. SCIENTISTS WHO WOULD TEST IT TO FIGHT CANCER AND OTHER CONDITIONS. NORFOLK SCIENTIST GARY D. HODGEN HOPES TO SEE MAJOR STUDIES ON RU-486 ONCE THE FDA APPROVES IT.
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960811/08110065.htm
Support the Democrats Campaign to overturn the legislation banning the importation of Mifepristone (RU 486):
please visit http://www.democrats.org.au/campaigns/reproductive_rights/