Medical Abortions–Lyndhurst

9 January 2014

Manager,

Women’s Health,

Christchurch Women’s Hospital,

Dear Ms Clark

Medical Abortions – Lyndhurst

I would be grateful if you would provide me with some information concerning the performance of medical abortions at Lyndhurst.

A 1990 directive jointly signed by the French Republic’s Director General of Health, Director of Hospitals and Director of Pharmacy and Medication stated that after women are given prostaglandin (e.g., misoprostol), they are monitored on site for approximately four hours so that allergic reactions, cardiopulmonary "events," haemorrhaging and the like can be treated promptly before they become life-threatening. The directive states that whenever prostaglandins are given "in association with RU 486" the "following technical conditions … are indispensable and are to be followed: The doctor must ensure that diagnostic instruments and machines are close by, such as electrocardiogram equipment and particularly resuscitative cardiopulmonary equipment (including nitrous oxide and injectable calcium antagonists and a defibrillator.

I would be grateful if you would provide me with a response to the following questions:

• Is the above emergency resuscitative equipment available at the Lyndhurst Clinic to deal with possible complications that might arise from the performance of medical abortions with Mifepristone and Misoprostol?.

• Is there is a delay of 24 hours or more between a women giving consent to a medical abortion and the taking of the Mifepristone?

• Are you in a position to advise me what the long term plans are for Lyndhurst, is it the Board’s intention to repair the building on Montreal Street and return Lyndhurst to that site?

Yours sincerely,

Ken Orr

Secretary