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Why is the Ministry of Health deceiving women considering an early medical abortion?

Updated: Jul 22



Media Release 21 July 2024


Right to Life believes that the Ministry of Health deprived 10,000 women who endured an early medical abortion in 2023 in New Zealand, of important information which prevented women from stopping an early medical abortion and saving the life of their precious unborn child. This would have been by taking no further action after having taken Mifepristone and before taking the prostaglandin, Misoprostol.


The Ministry of Health is constrained by an intolerable conflict of interest. It is committed to the war against women and promoting the killing of the defenceless unborn with its contract with Family Planning and Magma Healthcare Ltd, through its Decide National Abortion Telehealth Service for the killing of unwanted unborn children.


Right to Life is aware that the Ministry of Health’s Abortion Clinical Guidelines provide information which claims that early medical abortions cannot be stopped or reversed and that this practice is not supported in New Zealand.


This information is also on the Ministry’s website for the Decide National Abortion Telehealth Service. “You can change your mind about having an abortion at any time before it takes place, if you are having an early medical abortion. Once you have taken the medication you cannot stop or reverse the abortion”.


The Ministry’s claim that a woman cannot stop an early medical abortion after taking Mifepristone and before taking Misoprostol is not supported by:-


Joint statement on ‘Abortion reversal’: The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the British Society of Abortion Care Providers (BSACP)


Right to Life notes several key points and recommendations:


  • There are no reputable national or international clinical guidelines that recommend the use of progesterone to reverse the effect of Mifepristone, and no evidence that it increases the likelihood of continuing pregnancy, compared to expectant management alone.


  • Although evidence shows it is uncommon for women to regret their decision to have an abortion, on the very rare occasions where they do change their mind after receiving Mifepristone, they should be supported and offered non-directive, neutral counselling with the benefits and risks of each of their options discussed. This should usually be through an obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) service.


  • Where a woman or person chooses to continue with the pregnancy after having taken Mifepristone, best practice is to:


  • Offer an ultrasound scan to establish if the pregnancy has continued


  • Advise that if it is viable, there is a reasonable chance that the pregnancy will continue (this is more likely later on in a pregnancy).


  • Advise of an increased risk of pregnancy loss later in the pregnancy, possibly with some increased risk of severe bleeding.


  • Advise that Mifepristone is not known to cause birth anomalies.


  • Not offer treatment with progesterone.


  • Provide reassurance that women will be given support to understand their options, including access to counselling if desired.


  • Refer the pregnant woman for antenatal care at an appropriate point in pregnancy.


Right to Life asks:


Why is the Ministry of Health withholding this important information from women, who want to stop a medical abortion after taking Mifepristone and save the life of their precious unborn child?


When will the Ministry of Health recognise that pregnancy is not a disease and abortion is not a health service?


Ken Orr,

Spokesperson,

Right to Life New Zealand Inc.

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