San Diego Untion Tribune LTTE: Pulling abortion pill won't save lives

[question everything]

Pulling abortion pill won't save lives

My heart goes out to Monty Patterson over the death of his daughter ("4 abortion-pill deaths concern health experts," News, July 25). It is truly tragic that this beautiful young woman died at such an early age.

However, those who think that pulling Mifeprex from the market will save lives are sadly mistaken. According to the article, the mortality rate of Mifeprex is one in 100,000 cases. In contrast, the Centers for Disease Control puts the U.S. pregnancy-related mortality rate (deaths associated with live births) at around 10 in 100,000. The figure ranges from a low of 7 for white women up to almost 30 for black women. Either way, full-term pregnancy far exceeds the "abortion pill" in its threat to a woman's life.

Unfortunately, comparative figures such as these are rarely included in news reports. Instead, partial information misleads readers by creating an exaggerated impression of risk.

LESLIE K. YODER
San Diego

From http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050802/news_lz1e2lets1.html (last one)

[question everything]

1. Self kick. Really important info n/t

[Maat]

2. Great letter!

Peace,

[slackmaster]

3. Recommended - I read that in the U-T this morning

Funny how perspective on a story can change when someone looks at all the relevant facts instead of one cherry-picked statistic.