Subject: Lawsuit Challenges RU 486 Magazine Ads
Source: Washington Times; August 8, 2001

Lawsuit Challenges RU 486 Magazine Ads

Chicago, IL -- Three Chicago residents are suing the National Abortion
Federation on charges that the pro-abortion organization has used
deceptive advertising on behalf of RU-486, the dangerous abortion drug.

The suit, to be filed this morning in Cook County Circuit Court in
Chicago, says the Washington-based NAF published a "deceptive
advertisement" in the July issues of Self, In-Style and Vanity Fair
magazines claiming that the abortion pill was safe without mentioning any
of its side effects.

"Right now, we're asking for a judgment that they violated Illinois law,"
says Curt Mercadante, one of the three plaintiffs. He is referring to the
Illinois Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which forbids a business to
represent goods or services to have characteristics it does not have.

"What we're hoping to do is raise awareness in the state and nationally
about the advertising. We're familiar with Illinois law and perhaps people
in other states will find other laws the ad violates."

Mercadante, who is the program director for the United Republican Fund of
Illinois, joined with Nancy and Eugene Koprowski, also of Chicago, in
filing the suit. The Koprowskis both work for the Institute for Human
Rights in Chicago.

"Most women using the product will experience some side effects, according
to the U.S. government," Mercadante says, adding that "even Joe Camel had
to have a surgeon general's warning next to him."

The ad, which shows a woman leaning against a window, with the text: "You
have the freedom to choose. And now, you have another safe abortion
choice." Text at the bottom gives a toll-free number, a web site address,
and a reminder the pill has been approved by the Food and Drug
Administration.

The ad ran in the July issues of Self and People magazines and appears
this month in Cosmopolitan, Fitness, Health, In Style, Jane, Mademoiselle,
Glamour, Marie Claire, First for Women, Essence, Vanity Fair and Latina
magazines.

"These are anti-choice activists," said Vicki Saporta, executive director
of the National Abortion Federation, which has 400 member abortion
facilities nationwide. "The suit is wholely devoid of merit. Our
advertising campaign is entirely proper, and our attorneys will look at
the complaint and arrive at a definite course of action."

RU-486 is a chemical compound that, taken in pill form, can induce
abortion in women up to 49 days -- or seven weeks -- pregnant. The drug is
sometimes effective up to nine weeks of pregnancy, and unborn child's
heart has long ago started beating, her brain is functioning, and ears,
fingers and toes will have formed.

The drug, taken in two stages over three days, induces a miscarriage.
Dangerous effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, painful cramping and
in some cases heavy bleeding. In 1994, during FDA trials of the drug, an
Iowa woman nearly bled to death.

Although the U.S. government gave final approval to the drug last year,
abortion facilities and abortion practitioners have been slow to
distribute it, for fear of lawsuits and medical complications.