Editor’s Note: Yesterday, a panel of three judges delivered an important, albeit partial, victory for pro-lifers in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As previously stated by NRL here and here, the 5th Circuit judges unanimously ruled that the FDA’s loosening of regulations in 2016 and 2021 regarding the drug mifepristone was unlawful. The panel of judges failed to give adequate consideration to the demonstrated safety issues with the drug.
A further examination of the decision will be undertaken today, but it is also important to note that media accounts continue to accept the Department of Justice’s assurance that the use of mifepristone is safe, safe, and safer yet. Dr. Randall K. O’Bannon, NRL’s Director of Education & Research, has identified significant flaws in the commonly held belief that medication abortions are “safe” and, indeed, “safer than taking Tylenol.” Please find below Dr. O’Bannon’s response.
When considered in terms of deaths per dose, the figures demonstrate that this assertion is simply not accurate. The statistical manipulation employed in this instance is not particularly sophisticated. Those in favour of the product attempt to persuade the public to compare the number of deaths from a relatively lightly used product with one that is used billions of times by people every year.
It is estimated that approximately 150 Americans die annually from the ingestion of Tylenol, typically as a result of overdose or prolonged consumption. Concurrently, the FDA has disclosed that 28 deaths among American patients who have received mifepristone have been documented since the drug was approved in 2000.
It is therefore evident that there have been 28 deaths from mifepristone over a period of 20 years, whereas there have been 150 deaths from Tylenol in just one year. This suggests that mifepristone may be a safer option.
It would be prudent to pause for a moment to consider the implications of this information. This equates to 150 deaths from Tylenol, in the context of 25 billion doses of the medication consumed annually. It is estimated that there have been only 5.6 million total chemical abortions with mifepristone in the United States since its 2000 approval. This represents a mere fraction of the sales of Tylenol in a single year.
It is important to note the impact this has on the risk factor.
Using the minimal figures provided by the FDA, the risk of death from taking mifepristone is approximately one in 200,000. While not a significant figure, it is not to be overlooked. It is also important to note that the risk of experiencing a complication that requires emergency medical attention is approximately one in ten.
However, the risk of death from Tylenol is approximately one in 166.7 million, even when including those who overdose and fail to adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions.
This implies that the probability of death from mifepristone is approximately 833 times greater than the probability of death from Tylenol.
The assertion that mifepristone is a safer alternative to Tylenol is demonstrably false.
On 5 April, the National Right to Life Committee released a white paper which addressed the myths surrounding the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval and management of mifepristone (generic for Mifeprex).
A detailed examination of the numerous myths perpetuated by the media regarding the FDA’s approval and management of Mifeprex (mifepristone) can be accessed here.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
