Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce was angered to hear last night, on the ABC’s 7.30 Report, a statement by the Family Planning Family Association of NSW that medical abortions are no more dangerous than surgical.

The Association claimed Mifepristone generates the same number of medical complications as surgical abortions.

Unfortunately however the Association provides information out of context to suit its argument.

“This pro-choice organisation is once more hiding behind misleading statements,” Senator Joyce said.

“They claim a mortality rate of 1 in 100,000 which is the same for surgical abortions. However what they neglect to inform the public is the efficacy of RU 486 declines after 49days of pregnancy. They are comparing two different time frames. RU 486 over the first eight to nine weeks and surgical over the nine month duration of a pregnancy,” said Senator Joyce.

“When you compare the time frame of the first 8-9 weeks, surgical abortion or RU 486 that is, the results speak for themselves. 10 times the complication rate when undertaking a surgical abortion,” he said.

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