March 5, 2004 Shock abortion death claims By Bruce Venter (Pretoria News) An estimated 500 women die each year from complications arising from legally performed abortions - most due to severe haemorrhaging of the uterus. Their deaths have been linked, among other things, to a drug used in State hospitals which causes the uterus to contract and come in spite of warnings issued nearly four years ago. In October 2000, the Free State provincial health department expressed concern over the number of maternal deaths resulting from the use of Cytotec or Misoprostol. LachÈ Katzen, deputy director of the department, publicly admitted that the drug had caused maternal deaths in provincial hospitals. "The inappropriate use is so high that in every case where an over-dosage of Misoprostol was given, it resulted in a maternal death. Most of the deaths were related to severe haemorrhage," Katzen said at the time. In August 2000, Michael Cullen, managing director of Searle - the company which produced the drug - issued a warning to health practitioners to remind them that the drug was not approved for the induction of labour or abortion. Misoprostol is indicated to reduce gastric irritation - a side-effect of a non-steroidal anti-inflamatory used to treat muscular pain. Cullen said Searle had not done any research concerning the use of the drug to terminate pregnancy and was unable to provide complete risk information for Cytotec "when it is used for such purposes". Despite these warnings, State hospitals continue to use the drug for abortions. This week, The Pretoria News surveyed 18 national State primary healthcare facilities and all admitted using Misoprostol and all said there had been maternal deaths as a result. South Africa legalised abortion in 1997 with the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOP) and about 46 000 legal abortions are performed annually in State facilities. < The continued use of Misoprostol was brought to the attention of the Pretoria News by Doctors For Life (DFL), who in February 2001 voiced their concern to the Free State health department over the number of maternal deaths in provincial hospitals as a result of the use of Misoprostol. "DFL was extremely concerned about women dying as a result of the drug and we questioned its continued use if it was known to result in fatalities," said DFL spokesman John Smyth. A gynaecologist employed at a State primary health care facility in Pretoria, who asked not to be named, confirmed to the Pretoria News the use of Misoprostol, and its prescription by intern community service doctors. "We lack experienced staff to continually monitor the interns, who do, at times, prescribe an over-dose to patients," he said. He confirmed that in such instances, the patient usually died. According to Smyth, the Free State deaths had never been subject to an inquest as required by law. However, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has said that the prescription of over-dosages of Misoprostol and resultant deaths was due to human error. Tshabalala-Msimang has also denied allegations of deaths due to the inappropriate use of the drug. Dr Albu van Eeden, chief executive officer of DFL, says the Health Ministry is involved in a cover-up. "We have every reason to suspect a cover-up of the very serious negligence, and perhaps culpable homicide, causing the deaths of numerous women," he said. DFL had called on the Health Ministry to set up a public inquiry. |
| You are viewing this
page from one of the Doctors For Life web sites. To return to the site you
were visiting, close this window. All Materials ©2004 Doctors For Life International unless otherwise noted. |