‘Abortion pill’ legalised in Canada

Linepharma worldwide Limited has today announced that it has received Health Canada Approval (in the form of a Notice of Compliance) for Mifegymiso (a combination product comprised of mifepristone and misoprostol) in Canada. The former blocks production of the hormone progesterone, needed to sustain a pregnancy.

Studies suggest the drug can be used safely as late as 70 days into a pregnancy, although Health Canada may have set an earlier limit on the use of the drug.

“Any of those details you would have to speak to the officials at Health Canada and the scientists that actually manage the regulatory approval process.

Health Canada needs to reconsider and reverse the decision to approve this unsafe drug”, concluded Anderson’s release. Previously unavailable here, Mifepristone has just received approval from Health Canada. Women in Canada must obtain a prescription from a doctor before taking the drug.

Heavy bleeding, nausea, vomiting, and painful uterine contractions are common side-effects of the two-drug combo, which requires three trips to the doctor’s office over a two week period.

“I think there’s lots of different, complex reasons why people don’t give the care”, said Robyn MacQuarrie, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Truro, N.S. Dr. MacQuarrie previously offered to travel to PEI to provide surgical abortions, which are not available there. The company resubmitted an application the following year, but Health Canada held off making its decision until now.

“RU-486 is a human pesticide which kills the pre-born child and harms women”, said Campaign Life Coalitions national president Jim Hughes.

RU-486 has been available for 25 years in France, where the drug was invented.

22, 2010 picture shows bottles of the abortion-inducing drug RU-486 in Des Moines, Iowa.

“The possibility is kind of exciting for us, in that we may have options for these women”, she said.

But women don’t necessarily need more abortion access.

Saporta said it is likely the drug will only become available in Canada in early 2016.