Articles

Culture & Cosmos
December 28, 2004
Volume 2, Number 22

Parents of Abortion Drug Victim Sue Drug Company and Planned Parenthood

The parents of a young woman whose death was linked to the abortion
pill Mifeprex have filed suit against the drug's maker for wrongful death
and product liability. Holly Patterson, who died at the age of 18 in
September of 2003, is the third woman since the drug's 2000 approval to
die in connection with taking Mifeprex.

On Sept. 10, 2003, only a month after turning 18, Patterson took
Mifeprex, also called mifepristone and RU-486. Four days later she had her
boyfriend take her to the emergency room because of heavy bleeding and
cramps. She told her parents the pain was from severe menstrual cramps.
She was release by the hospital after being given pain medication. Three
days later on Sept. 17, she returned to the hospital where she experienced
intense pain and bleeding and then died. Patterson's autopsy determined
her death was "due to endomyometritis (inflammation)" caused by
"therapeutic, drug-induced abortion."

A spokeswoman for Danco Laboratories, the maker of the abortion pill,
said, "no causal relationship between the use of the Mifeprex regimen and
the unfortunate death of Ms. Patterson has been established." Mark
Crawford, the lawyer representing Patterson's parents said the suit is not
intended to cause media hype. "I haven't filed this thing to get
publicity. It's filed because there's been some wrongdoing on the part of
the drug manufacturer and drug sponsor here in not getting the warning
out."

Officials with the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) believe the
potential for Mifeprex to cause significant harm to those who take it to
be so serious that on Nov. 15 they strengthened the warning label that
comes with the pills. "The new warnings to health care providers and
consumers include changes to the existing black box on the product to add
new information on the risk of serious bacterial infections, sepsis, and
bleeding and death that may occur following any termination of pregnancy,
including use of Mifeprex," according to an FDA statement.

A New York Times story reported that in addition to the three deaths
linked to the drug, the F.D.A. has received 676 reports of problems. Among
those were 72 cases of blood loss requiring transfusions and 7 cases of
serious infections. According to the story the stronger warning label was
a step in the right direction for Patterson's father but more steps should
be taken. "Holly did not die in vain," said Patterson's father. "I'm not
convinced this drug is safe and I still think it should be banned.''

Some leaders in the pro-life community believe that regardless of the
final verdict the case could be significant. Information about Mifeprex
that becomes public as a result of the pre-trial investigation may prove
to be embarrassing to the drug maker. The lawsuit also names Population
Council; Planned Parenthood of Golden Gate, where Patterson received the
medicine; the doctor who treated Patterson; and the operators of the
hospital where Patterson died. None of the organization would provide
comment. The amount of money sought in the suit was not specified.

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