Complications from Mifepristone (RU486) Abortions Skyrocket in Ohio

By Cheryl Sullenger
Operation Rescue Special Report

A new round reporting forms for 2017 and part of 2018 obtained by Operation Rescue show that complications in Ohio to medication abortions done using the drug RU486, also known as mifepristone or Mifeprex, have skyrocketed over the past two years.

The rise in complications is tied to a dramatic increase in the use of medication abortions in that state. While overall abortions have steadily decreased since 1997, the use of mifepristone in conjunction with misoprostol to cause abortions has slowly increased until 2016 – the most recent year for which there are statistics – when medication abortion numbers jumped.

Ohio law requires each abortionist to report information on every mifepristone abortion that results in complications. They must include the name and address of the abortion facility, relevant dates, and type of complication. The name and signature of the abortionist responsible must also be included on the form.

Most of the forms also note the kind of treatment patients received in order to resolve the complications, although about a quarter of the forms for 2017 omitted that information.

Seven abortion facilities recorded a total of 106 complications to medication abortion in 2017 – a 44% increase over 2016 and a whopping 87% increase over complications reported in 2014.

Planned Parenthood in Bedford Heights recorded 38 abortion complications in 2017, the most of any other facility. This represented an increase of more than 60% over 2016 numbers.

Incomplete abortions were by far the most common type of mifepristone complications, followed by severe bleeding, failed abortions, and infection. Many women suffered more than one complication.

Operation Rescue report continues here