News
How Safe is the Abortion Pill Mifepristone?
Abortion pills are presently the most commonly used means of terminating a pregnancy in the United States, accounting for roughly two-thirds of all abortions. They have also emerged as a new battlefield in the United States’ battle for abortion access.
Much of the debate centers on mifepristone, one-half of the two-pill regimen that constitutes the safest and most effective method of pharmaceutical abortion. In June, the Supreme Court rejected a bid to limit access to the medicine.
However, the court left the door open for future challenges, which means the case might be in legal limbo again. Here’s an overview of mifepristone, what it does, and where it is used.
What is mifepristone?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends two pills to stop a pregnancy, the first of which is mifepristone.
It works by preventing a hormone called progesterone, which is required for a pregnancy to progress. Misoprostol, the second medicine, helps to empty the uterus. According to US studies, the two-step pharmaceutical routine is 95% successful.
In September 2000, the US approved mifepristone for the medical termination of pregnancy up to seven weeks of gestation. In 2016, the permitted use period was increased to 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Misoprostol has been available on prescription for decades to treat stomach ulcers and postpartum hemorrhage. Its non-pregnancy-related uses are most likely why it has not generated as much criticism as mifepristone.
Meanwhile, mifepristone is used to treat miscarriages and Cushing syndrome, which is a hormone-related illness.
Between 2000 and 2018, the FDA reported that more than 3.7 million women in the United States used mifepristone.
Is Mifepristone safe?
For over 20 years, the FDA, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists (ACOG), and other major medical groups have maintained that mifepristone and misoprostol are safe to use.
According to US studies, the two-step drug regime is around 95% effective in terminating pregnancy and requires less than 1% of the time for additional medical follow-up.
Anti-abortion advocates are increasingly claiming that abortion medication, also known as “chemical abortion,” is dangerous and useless. However, reputable medical organizations such as the World Health Organisation and the American Medical Association do not back up their assertions.
According to the FDA, mifepristone causes five deaths per million users. In comparison, a 2001 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association discovered that there were approximately 20 deaths per million penicillin users as a result of an adverse reaction to the routinely prescribed antibiotic.
Who questioned access?
The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, an umbrella group of anti-abortion doctors and activists, filed a lawsuit in November 2022, saying that mifepristone was hazardous and that the FDA erred by expediting the approval process and failing to sufficiently assess the safety hazards.
The FDA stated that the procedure was not rushed, taking four years and reviewing multiple studies with tens of thousands of participants before authorizing the abortion pill. The FDA did employ a provision in US drug regulations designed to help “fast-track” clearance processes, but it claimed it only used it to add additional limits for safety reasons, such as requiring women to be examined for the risk of ectopic pregnancies.
The lawsuit eventually reached the Supreme Court, which heard arguments in March 2024.
Three months later, in June, the justices unanimously concluded that the plaintiffs lacked a legal right to sue (known as standing) because they failed to demonstrate that the availability of mifepristone caused them injury.
“A plaintiff’s desire to make a drug less available to others does not establish standing to sue,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote for the court.
Where is it available?
Mifepristone and misoprostol are readily available in states where abortion is permitted.
The medications’ availability was expanded in April 2021 when the FDA announced it would waive the in-person dispensing rule for mifepristone during the COVID-19 epidemic. In December last year, the FDA permanently relaxed that barrier, allowing the drug to be mailed.
Pro-choice advocates praised the decision. Some saw abortion drugs provided by mail as a workaround for the abortion laws that swept the country following Roe v Wade’s overturn last June.
Another FDA amendment in 2022 permitted retail pharmacies to deliver the medication, expanding access even further. Previously, only healthcare providers were allowed to distribute the medicine.
News
Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.
Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”
The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”
Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.
Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.
The Prime Minister dances.
This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.
Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf
— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024
“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”
“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.
On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”
Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.
Pro-Palestinian protests
Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.
Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.
Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.
On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.
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News
Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla
The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.
The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.
The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.
“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”
According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.
Calgary Zoo Questioned
It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.
An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.
Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.
“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.
The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.
“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.
“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.
While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”
Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.
The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.
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News
Canada’s Lotto Max jackpot Climbs to $80M
Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.
Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.
The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.
According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.
While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.
Lotto Max History
Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.
The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.
Let’s have a look at the rules:
- Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
- Numbers cannot be repeated
- Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
- Each play buys 3 lines
- Each play costs $5
Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)
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