Washington D.C./August 13, 2009 -
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has dissolved an injunction against the enforcement of an OH law strictly regulating the provision of the dangerous abortion drug, RU-486.
Dr. Charmaine Yoest, CEO and President of Americans United for Life, stated, "This is a victory for women's health. Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers have readily admitted that they administer RU-486 in violation of the FDA-approved protocol for the drug. In response, Ohio rightly sought to protect women from such dangerous practices and the Sixth Circuit has ratified that decision."
In July, the OH Supreme Court clarified that the 2004 law mandates that abortionists comply with the FDA-approved protocol when administering RU-486 and follow the instructions contained in the drug's label. In light of that clarification, the Sixth Circuit vacated the injunction prohibiting the enforcement of the law and remanded the case to the federal district court.
Mailee Smith, AUL Staff Counsel, stated, "The drug manufacturer has publicly admitted that 29 women around the world have died after using RU-486. Eight of those women were American. That Planned Parenthood would even argue that it should be permitted to administer RU-486 in an untested and unapproved manner is appalling."
AUL filed an amicus brief in the Sixth Circuit on behalf of Senator (Dr.) Tom A. Coburn, M.D. (OK), and Representatives Roscoe Bartlett (MD), John Boehner (OH), Steve Chabot (OH), Trent Franks (AZ), Jim Jordan (OH), Patrick McHenry (NC), Joseph Pitts (PA), Jean Schmidt (OH), Chris Smith (NJ), and Mark Souder (IN). It is available here (pdf).
AUL also filed an amicus brief before the OH Supreme Court, which is available here (pdf).
About Americans United for Life
Americans United for Life (AUL) is a nonprofit, public-interest law and policy organization whose vision is a nation in which everyone is welcomed in life and protected in law. The first national pro-life organization in America, AUL has been committed to defending human life through vigorous judicial, legislative, and educational efforts at both the federal and state levels since 1971. The Wall Street Journal has profiled AUL, and PBS' Frontline program chronicled AUL's successful efforts in Mississippi.
