In a Public Health Advisory released March 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration alerted consumers to the additional deaths of two women who took the “abortion pill,” mifepristone (also known as Mifeprix or RU-486). The known death toll stemming from the abortion drug in the U.S. is now six women and countless unborn children, since the drug’s legalization in 2000. Beyond that, there have been over 800 adverse effects recorded from the drug.

The FDA received verbal notification of the latest deaths in the United States from the drug’s manufacturer, Danco Laboratories.  “At this time, we are investigating all circumstances associated with these cases and are not able to confirm the causes of death,” said an FDA release. “However, all providers of medical abortion and their patients need to be aware of the specific circumstances and directions for use of this drug and all risks including sepsis when considering treatment.”

Concerned Women for America expressed outrage that the FDA still refuses to pull the abortion pill RU-486 from the market, even after the announcement of the latest deaths. “The FDA has pulled other drugs that have caused fewer deaths and less severe complications than RU-486.

“Two more families are grieving because the FDA refuses to pull this dangerous drug from the market,” said CWA president Wendy Wright. “By giving its approval, the FDA participates in the deception that RU-486 is ‘safe.’ How many women must die before the FDA will act? Are their lives less important than making abortion convenient?”

In light of the newly reported deaths, U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (R-N.J.) urged that Congress take action and pass Holly’s Law. That law, authored by Representative Roscoe Bartlett (HR 1079), would withdraw FDA approval of RU-486 and subject it to a thorough review, which it did not receive before its present approval.  The law is named after 18-year-old Holly Patterson, who was killed by the dangerous drug.

“RU-486 was rushed to approval for political purposes by the Clinton administration and, as a result, numerous safety concerns were suppressed, trivialized and overlooked,” said Smith, co-chairman of the Pro-Life Caucus in the House of Representatives.

The FDA admits that only 10 per cent of complications suffered by patients from drugs even get reported. Over 800 complications due to RU-486 have been reported to the FDA. Among the most serious events, other than death, were that 42 women experienced life-threatening hemorrhages, while 68 more had severe hemorrhages requiring blood transfusions. There were 66 cases of infection, including seven cases of septic shock. Seventeen women had undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies before taking the drug – also a serious and potentially fatal situation, which resulted in the death of one woman. At least 513 of the women required surgery, with 235 of the surgeries deemed emergencies.

A version of this article originally appeared March 17 at LifeSiteNews.com and is reprinted with permission.