FDA Approves RU-486

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the abortion pill RU-486. Within a month, doctors will be able to prescribe the drug Mifeprex, or mifepristone, for women who are as much as seven weeks pregnant.

Despite warnings that the FDA would impose limitations on doctors who offer the pill, yesterdays approval came with relatively minor restrictions. The rules given require that doctors who prescribe Mifeprex be able to determine how far along a pregnancy is and must either be able to perform surgical abortions or have a pre-existing agreement with another physician who is qualified to conduct such surgery. For more information visit www.fda.gov.