Media Release 14 July 2024
In an unprecedented assault on human rights, the Ministry of Health has threatened our doctors with prosecution and possible prison sentences, if they provide the hormone progesterone to any woman, in order to reverse their early medical abortion. The Ministry of Health prohibits the use of progesterone to reverse an early medical abortion.
The abortion industry is opposed to the birth of live babies, they require all abortions to be effective and terminate the life of the unborn child in the womb.
Right to Life believes that the Ministry of Health, which should be at the forefront in defending the right to life of our precious unborn children, and the health of their mothers, has been infiltrated by the pro-abortion movement, who are advocates for the “culture of death.”
In a position statement dated 11 July 2024, the Ministry of Health sought to warn women “ against this unsafe and scientifically unsupported practice”. The Ministry reassured women that killing their unborn baby in an early medical abortion was “a safe and effective reproductive health service.”
We believe that the estimate by the American Right to Life Association, of the safe birth of more than 5,000 babies internationally since 2012, after their mothers used this reversal protocol, is evidence that the Abortion Pill Reversal Protocol is both safe and effective. Why does the New Zealand Ministry of Health refuse to accept this evidence?
The Ministry of Health claimed “that clinical research trials have not found abortion reversal to be effective and it could lead to serious side effects and adverse outcomes”.
Under the Official Information Act, Right to Life has asked the Ministry of Health for evidence which supports its claim that clinical research trials have found that abortion reversal is ineffective.
The Ministry of Health declined our request. If the Ministry has the evidence, why will they not reveal it?
Right to Life laid a complaint with the Ombudsman in 2023 (see second letter on this page) against the Ministry of Health ,for failure to provide evidence that the Abortion Pill Reversal Protocol is unsafe and ineffective.
The Ministry claim that anyone giving advice to a woman about the abortion pill reversal protocol, “may be in breach of her rights.” The Ministry encourages these women to lodge a complaint with the Health & Disability Commissioner.
When will the Ministry defend the right to life of the unborn child and the right of the mother to choose life for her child?
Right to Life believes that women have an absolute right to change their mind about abortion, to choose life for their child and discontinue an abortion, as it should be their choice.
The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights states , (7) “Every consumer has the right to refuse services and to withdraw consent to services”.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has stated that if a woman has taken Mifepristone to kill her unborn child and changes her mind, but if she does not take the Misoprostol and takes no further action, then her baby has a 60% chance of survival.
Why is this important information being withheld from women?
Right to Life is concerned that 10,000 women who sought an early medical abortion in NZ in 2023, were not advised they had a right to discontinue the procedure after taking Mifepristone, before taking the second drug Misoprostol.
They were also not advised that the abortion pill reversal protocol was available, and that it is safe and effective.
Ken Orr,
Spokesperson,
Right to Life New Zealand Inc.
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