Right to Life Questions ASC on RU 486 Abortion Protocols

Letter to ASC under Official Information Act

Dear Sir,

I wish to request under the Official Information Act copies of your Committee’s minutes subsequent to the 2 July 2009.

Your Committee is currently considering an application from the Family Planning Association for an abortion licence for its Hamilton clinic. Is the Association required to comply with the requirements of the Contraception sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977, section 21. [1] [a],[b] and [c].

It is noted that the “Guidelines for the Use of Mifepristone for Medical Abortion in New Zealand”, specifically state in 6.3.4, that after the administration of Mifepristone the patient is required to be kept under medical/nursing observation for one hour to ensure there is no reaction to the drug and that it has been ingested…

It is further noted that 6.4.2.requires that after the administration of Misoprostol the patient is generally required to be kept under observation over the next 4 – 6 hours.

It would be appreciated if you would advise if Family Planning would be required to conform to these guidelines at its Hamilton clinic, should it be granted a licence.

It would be appreciated if you would also advise if complications arise for a woman undergoing a medical abortion after the administration of Misoprostol are required to be reported to your Committee.

Yours sincerely

Ken Orr

Secretary.