The anti-abortion drug - RU486 - should be legalized in Australia

Essay by bransona08High School, 10th gradeA, January 2007

download word file, 2 pages 0.0

Downloaded 1196 times

I would like to share my opinions about the law of the anti-abortion drug - RU486. Although this drug is not illegal in Australia as such, it is forbidden. I would like this law to change; to make the drug freely available to pregnant woman. Women have the right to choose what they do to their body and what they put in it. More than a million women worldwide have used this medication safely. But many people think that killing something living is wrong, but early term abortions using RU486 are not inherently wrong. The foetuses killed have never been conscious, had desires for the future or an interest in ongoing life. Also, by making this drug available at hospitals or chemists is a much cheaper alternative than requiring a doctor to perform the abortion.

Women, or anyone for that matter, have the right to choose what they do to their body.

They should be able to decide for themselves, without the approval from doctors, whether or not they want to devote their body to carrying a baby and give birth. RU486 isn't a drug like marijuana or ecstasy, it actually helps the lives of people.

Although there have been several cases of bad reactions, such as excessive bleeding, cardiovascular complications and in a few rare cases, death, it is a relatively safe drug. "More than a million women worldwide have used medication abortion safely and 96% of them had a complete abortion", said the Planned Parenthood's vice president for medical affairs. "Since it was approved by the FDA in September. 2001, women and doctors nationwide report high levels of success and satisfaction with this early abortion option". The women that have had negative results didn't follow the guidelines properly. Women need to be well informed and warned about the dangers before purchasing the drug. This way it is the woman's choice weather or not she follows the guidelines.

Many people think that killing something living is wrong, but early term abortions using RU486 are not inherently wrong. The FPA approved 49 days or less for the termination of an early pregnancy. If a woman was to take the drug, following this guideline, the foetuses killed would have never been conscious, had desires for the future or an interest in ongoing life.

The high prices associated with manual abortion, where a certified doctor is required to perform the abortion, are ridiculous. You would normally expect to pay around $300 - $500 or even more for this kind of abortion. Although RU486 has no set price in Australia yet, you could find it in other countries ranging anywhere between $20-$200. This is still a significant price drop compared to manual abortion.

So, although there may be side effects in the extremely rare case, this drug is safe if the guidelines are followed correctly. People will benefit hugely if it is introduced physically, mentally and economically and, because this drug is killing a foetus that has never been conscious, it not killing something living. In the end, it should simply be up to the woman which way she decides to have an abortion, whether its with a doctor, or through the use of a drug, it doesn't really make a difference.

Bibliography:

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/425822/640398

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=%5CCulture%5Carchive%5C200411%5CCUL20041116a.html

http://www.cathnews.com/news/602/99.php

http://www.smh.com.au/news/NATIONAL/RU486-will-not-lift-terminations-AMA/2005/12/15/1134500938146.html