A debate has rekindled about the safety of mifepristone, an abortion pill also known as RU-486, and whether it should remain on the market.
In January, a young woman who had taken mifepristone died and anti-abortion activists say her death is linked to the pill. It is the third death the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has connected to the drug.
The drug works by blocking progesterone, a hormone required to sustain pregnancy. It is administered, as required by law, in the presence of a doctor.
RU-486 is effective for 49 days following the beginning of the last menstrual period.
Misoprostol, a hormone-like substance that causes uterine contractions, is taken two days after RU-486 to ensure termination of the pregnancy.
"When RU-486 was passed, the process was sped up by President Clinton," said Katie Wilcox, president of MSU Students for Life and K-12 education administration graduate student. "I don't think it went through appropriate barriers to be on the market.
"It should be taken off the market - it is very dangerous to women's health."
On Nov. 15, the FDA raised the label warning to the highest available and enhanced its required visibility on the container.
Problems can occur if mifepristone is taken for pregnancies that are not located in the uterus or if the patient is not closely monitored.
According to data from the Michigan Department of Community Health, 32 percent of women who obtain abortions are between 20 and 24 years old.
Other media reported that Lester Crawford, acting commissioner of the FDA, said the latest death is due to mifepristone. But officials of Danco Laboratories, the maker of the drug, said their product is not the cause.
Mid-Michigan Planned Parenthood Alliance Vice President Lori Lamerand, said the death is probably due to the abortion itself, not the drug used.
Olin Health Center does not provide RU-486 to patients, spokeswoman Kathi Braunlich said.
Information is available at the gynecology clinic on the numerous options to take if an unplanned pregnancy occurs.
"Women need options to terminate pregnancies if they want to do that," Olin Health Education Services Coordinator Dennis Martell said. "People should have as much information about what is out there so they can make an informed decision about their bodies."
The 2004 National College Health Assessment reported from the 75 percent of MSU students who are sexually active, 1.8 percent have accidentally become pregnant or have unintentionally impregnated a woman.
Of the sexually active students, 9.5 percent have used, or their partner has used, a form of emergency contraceptive in the past year.
Martell said RU-486 could be considered emergency contraceptive, but other forms such as the morning-after pill were probably also counted.
Mifepristone can be obtained at the East Lansing branch of Michigan Planned Parenthood, 515 E. Grand River Ave.
Lamerand said the drug is an important aspect in giving women control of their bodies.
"All of the appropriate safe guards have been left in place," Lamerand said. "If women are appropriately monitored and given care, it is safer than women going through with the pregnancy.
"All medications have negative side effects and potentials risks."
