Are medical abortions (RU-486) legal?
Yes. Also known as Mifepristone, this medication was invented in France by Dr. Etienne-Emile Baulieu in 1980. Medical abortions work only during the first nine weeks of the pregnancy. They are 95.5% effective in inducing abortion during the first seven weeks of pregnancy. The medication is taken in the form of a pill in a three or four step procedure. A minimum of two visits to an authorized medical center is required. These visits are important because only authorized medical personnel can tell whether an abortion has occurred or not. More than 500,000 women in Europe and millions of women worldwide have had medical abortions. May a pregnant woman have an abortion without notifying her husband or obtaining his consent? Yes. A married woman may choose to have an abortion without the consent of her husband, Can a minor have an abortion without notifying her parents? Yes. A pregnant minor can have an abortion without informing her parents or obtaining their permission. Most teenagers who
