The Association for Interdisciplinary Research in Values and Social Change, an anti-reproductive rights group that includes medical professionals, will be hosting its annual conference at the end of June in Jacksonville. According to the group’s press release on National Right to Life News, the event’s focus will be on the “special dangers posed” by chemical abortions using the RU 486 drug.
The group is an association of anti-reproductive rights professionals from “clinical and academic areas.” The group says its aim is: “(1) to provide opportunities for increased professional activity through mutual sharing of knowledge and experience between and among these professions, and (2) to provide a venue for the dissemination of research to the pro-life community.”
The association’s president stated in its press release that the topic of chemical abortion is particularly important because “the abortion industry has been working to increase the use of chemical abortion procedures in this country and abroad.”
The use of chemical abortions has been a target of the anti-reproductive rights movement since the drug companies were looking to have them approved by the FDA. Since the FDA’s approval of RU 486 and the like, those opposed to the drugs have tried to limit the use of the drug by arguing that the pills are unsafe.
Four anti-reproductive rights news sites simultaneously ran stories of a medical survey from Australia last month, which states that chemical abortions are “less safe than surgery.” However, prior U.S. research shows that such a claim is not accurate.
Even though the medically-based public relations fight has been harder to win, the anti-abortion community has seen recent victories in limiting access to chemical abortions on a state legislative level. Nebraska’s effort to outlaw “telemed” abortions is just one example. Telemed abortions are procedures in which doctors monitor chemical abortions through a remote webcam system. This allows a woman to undergo an abortion in her own home.
States such as Texas and Oklahoma made efforts this year to limit access to the RU 486, in general, by restricting when a woman can take the drug.
The Association for Interdisciplinary Research in Values and Social Change event will be held at 8 p.m. on Wed., June 22 in Jacksonville. It is free and open to the public.
