"Ella," New Morning After Pill Some Call Abortive Drug, Fast-Track Approved by FDA

News came on Tuesday, Aug. 17, that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved what's being called the latest "Morning After" pill, "ella." Ella comes from France and has a one-year track record with French women. It was proposed for consideration to the FDA just this past June.

The FDA has raised eyebrows by approving ella in only two months. Similar suspicions were raised when the FDA fast-tracked the previous morning after pill, "Plan B," and the abortive drug RU486, without the usual required testing and research period.

A "morning after" pill is promoted as a contraceptive for consumption by women within a few days after having unexpected, unprotected sexual intercourse. It is supposed to prevent pregnancy. It cannot prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Pro's and Con's of "ella," Plan B, and RU486:

Pro-choice groups insist all three medications are relatively non-harmful and were approved without political bias. Voices from both pro-choice and in some cases pro-life camps feel they are especially needed in cases of rape.

But it's long been suspected, not only by pro-life groups but also by anti-Big Pharma organizations with no specific party affiliation or religious ties, that quick-approval pressure on drugs like this comes from money-laden pharmaceutical companies and pro-abortion lobbyists romancing the FDA.

According to a report in the New York Times, President Diane Zuckerman of the National Research Center for Women and Families stated "ella" was approved based on scientific evidence.

But President Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America stated the testing period has not been long enough to establish safety. And, ella was approved late on a Friday night (Aug. 13), which is a common tactic to avoid political scrutiny.

Differences and Danger Concerns:

Since its approval in 2000, RU486 has caused seven known American deaths with more in other countries, plus over 1,000 reported serious injuries. RU486 is prescribed by a doctor or administered at a clinic that performs legal abortions, but the miscarriage process is medically unsupervised at home. No anesthetics are administered.

The most famous U.S. death case is that of Holly Patterson. Patterson received RU486 at a Planned Parenthood clinic upon finding out she was pregnant. She went through the miscarrying process at home alone (this can take a week to 14 days), became severely ill and eventually died of a septic blood infection. A CBS News report after Patterson's death stated that Planned Parenthood considered RU486 a non-invasive procedure.

Life-threatening infection comes when the woman expels portions of the dead, unborn baby (or fetus, as some prefer) at home. This can take one to two weeks of various symptoms such as cramping or other pain, nausea, fatigue and bleeding. If pre-natal parts or tissues remain inside the woman, this can cause toxic blood (sepsis) from bacteria and possible death.

"Plan B" is considered the least harmful of the three. Although it must come with a doctor's prescription, "Plan B" is already available for online ordering by the patient, and can be taken at home without medical supervision.

"Plan B" produces a hormone resembling progesterone that inhibits the ovaries from producing eggs. Some experts state it can also prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the womb-basically the equivalent of an abortion. According to one package warning at an online birth control store, it is not to be taken if pregnant.

Ella is closer in composition to RU486. Both RU486 and ella block progesterone receptors. This means an embryo would be prevented from implanting in the uterus, or that an already-implanted embryo wouldn't get proper nutrition. Some consider this an abortion.

European trials have indicated that ella may cause a miscarriage if a pregnancy has already started, or birth defects for babies who survive the process. Adverse effects were also found on the liver.

Pro-life groups argue that, if a woman is knowingly or unknowingly already pregnant, and whether or not she intends to induce a miscarriage, all three of these processes are no safer than abortions attempted by women at home or "back-alley locations" prior to the passage of Roe v Wade in 1972.

Sources (no direct quotes:)

Talking Points on Ella (ulipristal) the abortion drug, Concerned Women for America, 8/17/10.

"F.D.A. Approves 5-Day Emergency Contraceptive," Gardiner Harris, New York Times, 8/13/10.

"FDA considers 5-day 'morning-after pill'," Rob Stein, The Washington Post, 6/11/10, found at Seattle Times.

"Talking To Kids About Abortion:After Death Of Teen Daughter, Monty And Debbie Patterson Encourage Communication," Tatiana Morales, CBS News, 9/22/03.

"Plan B" warning statement: mybirthcontrolstore.com.