CMA Defends RU-486 Petition to FDA.Business Editors/Political Writers/Health/Medical Writers WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 28, 2004 Physicians with the Christian Medical Association (www.cmawashington.org) today responded to Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Federation The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is an organization of abortion providers. Though originally a U.S. group, NAF has expanded to include practitioners in Canada and Australia as well as many European countries. , which sought this week to influence the FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. to dismiss evidence that the abortion drug RU-486 requires a new and proper safety review. "The economic incentives of abortion and the drive to expand access and the market for abortion seem to have driven a biased assessment by these groups of the scientific evidence," noted CMA CMA - Concert Multithread Architecture from DEC. Associate Executive Director Gene Rudd, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist gynecologist /gy·ne·col·o·gist/ (-kol´ah-jist) a person skilled in gynecology. gy·ne·col·o·gist n. A physician specializing in gynecology. . CMA had joined Concerned Women for America Concerned Women for America is a conservative Christian political action group active in the United States. The group was founded in 1979 by Beverly LaHaye, wife of Christian Coalition co-founder Timothy LaHaye, as a response to activities by the National Organization for Women and and the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists in submitting a 90-page citizen petition to the FDA in August 2002, showing evidence why the drug had not been proven safe in a rushed and politically pressured decision. The abortion groups filed their objections to the citizen petition with the FDA this week. "Our citizen petition raised ample scientific concerns regarding the adverse health implications of mifepristone Mifepristone Definition Mifepristone is a pill that can be taken as an alternative to a surgical abortion. Purpose This medication most often is used for ending early pregnancies. to justify re-evaluation and removal of this product," Dr. Rudd asserted. "Safety concerns were not adequately taken into account during initial evaluation. Sadly, these and new concerns have been realized since the regimen went into use." Dr. Rudd explained, "U.S. experience with this regimen has resulted in numerous untoward effects, including the recent tragic death of Holly Patterson in California. There is additional concern of gross underreporting of bad outcomes with this drug, as the FDA relies on the very individuals and groups that are likely guilty of abuse and negligence to report their own wrongdoing wrong·do·er n. One who does wrong, especially morally or ethically. wrong  do ." "The claim by the abortion groups that the FDA's decision will be biased by 'politics' is nothing more than a strategy to distract attention away from valid scientific concerns and an attempt to bully the FDA. Politics during the previous administration is what drove the FDA not only to approve this drug, but also to drop vital requirements it had developed to mitigate the drug's danger," Rudd concluded. To schedule an interview please contact Jennifer Pickel at (423) 844-1048 or by e-mail: jennifer@cmdahome.org. The Christian Medical Association is equipped with Ku Band Digital Uplink satellite and ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. lines. Executive summary of the document submitted to the FDA by CMA, et. al.: www.cmdahome.org (Issues / Abortion / Resources) Planned Parenthood and National Abortion Federation summary: http://www.prochoice.org/mife_executive_summary.pdf |
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