Ru 486 Misconceptions Myths and Morals - ressourcesfeministes

Claims for RU 486/PG AbortionSome studies cite differences between severe andmoderate bleeding. In the Chinese Multicenter Trial (Gao etal., 1988), 23 per cent of the women experienced heavybleeding and 67.8 per cent reported moderate bleeding. Otherstudies mention that bleeding was significant enough to causeloss of work. One study notes that although blood loss wasnot life-threatening, it could compromise the health of womenin a population in which anemia is endemic, as in manydeveloping countries (Rodger and Baird, 1989:445). Manystudies report a significant drop in hemoglobin levels. Acritical drop in hemoglobin, which is a decrease in the oxygencarryingcapacity of the body’s red blood cells, leads to lowblood pressure and shock and often necessitates a bloodtransfusion. In one study, 15.3 per cent of women had almosta 10 per cent fall in their hemoglobin levels (Sitruk-Ware etal., 1990). Sixteen out of 150 women were prescribed irontherapy to repair the hemoglobin deficit (Maria et al., 1988).Contradictorily, studies reporting bleeding as a significantside-effect of the treatment also state that it is not excessive(Grimes et al., 1988). Other studies distinguish betweenmoderate and mild bleeding (Hill et al., 1990a). Rodger andBaird state quite baldly: ‘As we gained experience, we becamemore confident in disregarding minimum continued vaginalbleeding’ (Rodger and Baird, 1987:1417).The disregarding of these factors by researchers establishesthe standards which determine the acceptability of differentdegrees of blood loss; severe versus moderate versus mild.Judgements about the seriousness of bleeding, likejudgements about the severity of pain, are in the subjective/objective eye of the beholder. It becomes clear thatcomplications, such as bleeding and pain, are often evaluateddifferently by researchers than by women themselves. ‘Painis a difficult parameter to compare, as the perception of painby the individual and supervisory personnel depends onsocial and cultural factors, as well as availability of analgesics’(Swahn and Bygdeman, 1989:298–99).41