WASHINGTON, D.C., OCT. 5, 2000 (ZENIT.org).- Lawmakers hope to introduce
legislation to tighten standards for the use of the RU-486 abortion pill,
recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
U.S. Representative Tom Coburn, a Republican from Oklahoma, and Senator Tim
Hutchinson, a Republican from Arkansas, said legislation was needed because
the Food and Drug Administration had «caved in´´ to pro-abortion groups
seeking easy access to abortion.
Coburn´s legislation is «designed to protect women who will be endangered
by the FDA´s inadequate projections for women who will use RU-486,»
according to a press release from his office. The measure will «codify and
strengthen the patient health and safety projections proposed by the FDA
when it approved RU-486.»
Coburn said he hoped to get the bill to the House floor in the final days
of this session. Hutchinson was less ambitious, saying he was looking to
have a hearing this year and pursue the issue next year.
The abortion pill was taken up in Tuesday night´s debate between
presidential nominees Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W.
Bush. Bush said he was disappointed in the ruling while Gore said the FDA
had concluded the drug was medically safe and he supported its decision.
