03/03/2004 Docs act on abortion deaths 22:13ÝÝ-Ý(SA) Michele O'Connor Bloemfontein - Doctors for Life (DFL) have submitted a letter to the minister of health about the high number of deaths among women getting abortions in the Free State. According to John Smyth, the DFL's spokesperson, the unlicensed drug, Misoprostol, also known as Cytotec, has been used, with Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang's approval, at Free State hospitals for the past few years. The drug is believed to cause abnormal bleeding during abortion procedures and it is claimed it led directly to a number of deaths among women. Free State MEC for health Ouma Tsopo admitted in a letter to the DFL in April 2001 that the drug was being used. According to her, the deaths happened because of overdosing with drugs at a primary healthcare level. Demanding details of deaths, compensation In March that year, however, the minister denied knowledge of any deaths. In April, her secretary promised that an investigation into the use of the drug would be carried out, said Smyth. He said the DFL was demanding Tshabalala-Msimang release information. This included the names of all women who had died in the Free State because of the drug, settlements paid out to families, the publication of the report on the investigation and a public inquiry into the deaths. Doctors for Life is an international organisation comprising at least 1Ý000 members worldwide. Edited by Iaine Harper |
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