RU-486 approved
AN Italian drugs safety watchdog has approved the sale of the abortion-inducing drug RU486 in this predominantly Roman Catholic country, the ANSA news agency reports.
The Italian Pharmaceuticals Agency (AIFA) gave its decision on the drug, which is marketed under the name Mifegyne, after a two-year process of deliberation.
Their decision came despite strong pressure from the Roman Catholic Church and a clear lack of enthusiasm from the right-wing Coalition Government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, ANSA reported.
Bishop Elio Sgreccia, vice president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, warned that any doctor or woman, or anyone involved in promoting the drug, would be subject to excommunication from the church.
"One takes a decision as if one was dealing with any anti-fever drug and not a means of suppressing a life, even if it is at its early stage," said junior interior minister Alfredo Mantovano.
AIFA's board decided to grant the November 2007 request of the French laboratory Exelgyn to put the drug on the market. Mifegyne has been available in France since 1988.
RU486, which is not to be confused with the so-called "morning after" pill Norlevo, which has been available in Italy since 2000, allows the user to have a chemically induced abortion instead of a surgical intervention. The pill is used to terminate an unwanted pregnancy within the first five or seven weeks, depending on the country where it is prescribed.
A 1978 Italian law allows surgical abortion only.
Italian law also allows doctors to refuse to perform abortions as conscientious objectors - an option used by some 70 per cent of Italy's gynaecologists.
July 31st, 2009 - 13:31
I am mildly surprised that Italy would legalize abortion with as many Catholics as there are in that area.