23 October, 2009

THE RU486 PETITION

The Family Planning Association is applying for a licence for their Hamilton office to administer RU486, a medical abortion procedure. 

For information about RU486 see the brief outline below.

(also see:  www.RU486facts.org)  

As citizens are we for LIFE or DEATH for women and the unborn?

One of the methods available to us, as concerned members of the public living in Hamilton, Waikato and Coromandel, is to gather signatures as a petition.

The petition will be posted to the Abortion Supervisory Committee, who has the jurisdiction to grant, or deny, the necessary licence. 

It will also be sent to the Select Committee, the parliamentary body which is responsible for the ASC.

We need to collect hundreds, if not thousands, of names.  Only 12 names per sheet!

We are doing this within a short time frame – 4 weeks only.

Attached is a copy of the form we are using.  Please follow the steps below:

 
1. Read the petition wording.
2. Forward this email to all those who could be willing to sign, and themselves collect signatures, and who live in Hamilton, Waikato or Coromandel.
3.  Print off copies of the form for yourself, and collect as many signatures as you can from amongst those in your sphere of influence – family, church, home group, clubs, neighbours, work, uni.
4. Post your forms to:

              Sue Rowe,

             140 Newcastle Rd,

             Hamilton 3200

Please post by Monday 30^th November, 2009 regardless of the numbers of names.

Note:

It seems that Hamilton Family Planning is a test case.

Should that licence be granted we can expect that other Family Planning branches throughout NZ would also apply to the Abortion Supervisory Committee for a licence.

We expect the ASC to meet this Friday, 30^th Oct, and then in six weeks which could be when they discuss Family Planning’s application.

The Waikato Times reported on 24th Oct:

“The Waikato District Health Board is supporting Family Planning in their licence request.  The Waikato DHB does not have the resource or facilities to offer women a medical abortion…..We are working with them to ensure all safety and medical requirements are met.  We will back them up as a medical provider should it be required.”

Family Planning Hamilton are shifting in November to a much larger facility, probably 4x larger.  Presumably it is because they expect to be granted the licence.

Thank you for your support and prayers in this battle to save lives,

No reminders!

Thank you for your participation and concern.

Sue Rowe,

HealNZ Prayer

Ph (07) 847 5648

ABORTION STATS!

Approx 18,000 abortions in NZ per year

That’s about 4x the population of Hamilton since 1977 when the law was passed.

1,487 abortions in Waikato in 2008.

RU486  -  SOME INFORMATION

·               RU486 was invented by Dr Etienne-Emily Baulieu in France in 1980.  He stated at the time that using the drug was not a simple procedure and was ‘an appalling psychological ordeal for women’ (because she has to live with her abortion process for a week, or longer).

·               It was approved for use in France in Sept 1988, but withdrawn for a period because of anti-abortion action.

·               RU486 was its designation at the Roussell Uclaf company which designed the drug.

·               It is also marketed under trade names Mifegyne and Mifeprex.

·               It is used as an abortifacient in the first two months of pregnancy.  It is not to be used later than the ninth week after the start of the last menstrual period.  After the 63^rd day the drug becomes less effective and the side effects more severe.

·               It is considered to be 98% effective in killing the unborn baby.

·               The synthetic agent, a poison, acts by blocking the hormone progesterone which enables the baby to remain implanted in the mother’s womb and to be nourished. The embryo’s bond to the uterus breaks down, halting foetal development.  1-3 days later a second drug, prostaglandin, is administered.  This synthetic hormone causes the cervix to soften and dilate and the uterus to contract, expelling the foetus.  Usually this occurs within four hours.  Many women expel at home, see the foetus and are shocked to see how developed it is.

·               The proper use of the drug requires three visits to a physician or clinic over a period of about 15 days.  This compares to the one-step surgical procedure.

·               In NZ its use was approved by the Minister of Health, Annette King, in August 2001.

·               It is administered already in Auckland and Christchurch.

·               Some advocate that it is an important option for women who want to avoid surgery or who desire an abortion at a very early stage of pregnancy before surgical abortion is medically feasible.  Some compare it to having “a natural miscarriage”.  But it is not natural, and this covers up what is truly happening.  Pro-lifers are concerned that women in crisis pregnancy will feel pressured to opt for RU486, without enough time to consider other options such as keeping the baby or open adoption.

·               Side effects of a medical abortion can include extensive bleeding, cramping, fever, viral infection, vaginitis, endometritis (inflammation of the uterine lining), continued pain, nausea and vomiting. 

·               On average, women experience varying degrees of bleeding for 8-9 days.  But 9% of women in US trials bled for over 30 days.

·               Death can occur.  There have been 12 reported deaths in USA, e.g. Holly Patterson, California, who died from septic shock Sept 2003.

·               There have been over 1200 complications, many life threatening, resulting from the use of this drug.  The long term effects on women’s health are unknown.  One effect of the drugs combination is to suppress immune system response.

·               Women are left with a lifetime of sorrow, regret, grief, spiritual, physical and psychological damage.

·               Dame Margaret Sparrow is an Honorary Vice President and life member of the Family Planning Assoc.  She is also a share holder and director of Istar Ltd, the sole importer of RU486.  She supports the application by Family Planning to the Abortion Supervisory Committee for a licence to perform medical abortions at its Hamilton clinic.

·               Hamilton Family Planning is moving premises in November to 240 Tristram St, a building about 4x the size of their current office.  Presumably this is because they expect the licence to be granted and are preparing for that time.