At its weekend meeting in Canberra, the AMA Federal Council revised the AMA’s Reproductive Health and Reproductive Technology 1998 position statement. Where the law permits the termination of pregnancy, the position statement now supports the use of non-surgical forms of pregnancy termination, including RU-486/mifepristone, as alternatives to surgical abortion in cases considered medically and clinically most appropriate.
RU-486 has been effectively banned in Australia since 1996. It is available in many countries including the USA and the UK.
AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, calls on the Federal Government to remove restrictions on the use of the drug in Australia.
Dr Haikerwal said the AMA Federal Council made the change to its position statement to reflect current medical and clinical opinion on the drug, and to give women a safe and effective alternative to surgical abortion.
The revised AMA position statement now reads:
Termination of Pregnancy
1. The AMA respects the rights of doctors to hold differing views regarding termination of pregnancy.
2. Where the law permits termination of pregnancy, the procedure and the associated anaesthesia should, as with any other medical intervention, be performed by appropriately trained medical practitioners, in premises approved by a recognised health standards authority.
3. Where the law permits termination of pregnancy, non-surgical forms of termination (such as RU486/mifepristone) should be made available as an alternative to surgical abortion in cases where they are medically deemed to be the safest and most appropriate option based on the appropriate clinical assessment.
4. It is the doctor's responsibility to provide patients with information regarding the potential health risks and psychological consequences which can arise from continuation of and termination of pregnancy.
7 November 2005
CONTACT: Judith Tokley, 0408 824 306/02 6270 5471