The anguish is unmistakable in Monty Patterson's voice. For now,all he knows is that his daughter, Holly, took the abortion pillknown as RU-486 to end a pregnancy he never knew about. A weeklater, she lost her life.
The Livermore, Cal. teenager died Wednesday at Valley CareMedical Center in Pleasanton. Patterson said he was told hisdaughter died of septic shock caused by a massive infection. TheAlameda County coroner, still investigating the cause of her death,won't have an answer for at least two weeks.
While the circumstances of Holly Patterson's death are unclear,and severe health problems from RU-486 are rare, Patterson said hefirmly believes it was the abortion pill that killed hisdaughter.
``She just turned 18,'' Patterson said. ``They told her it wassafe and it killed her.'' Holly Patterson had received the drugfrom Planned Parenthood's Hayward clinic Sept. 10, Patterson said.Bleeding heavily and in pain, but telling her father only that shehad severe menstrual cramps, the teen had her boyfriend take her tothe emergency room at Valley Care Medical Center on Sunday, whereshe was given painkillers and released, Patterson said.
On Wednesday, he was called to the hospital again, where HollyPatterson was so ill she could only squeeze his hand, Pattersonsaid. It was only then that he learned, from his daughter's doctor,that she had taken the abortion pill. The doctor told him that shehad not expelled a portion of the fetus she was trying to abort,Patterson said.
``I felt so helpless,'' Patterson said. ``I didn't have a chanceto be involved. ''
The Planned Parenthood clinic would not provide details aboutthe case, citing patient confidentiality.
A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday atCallahan Mortuary in Livermore.
RU-486, also known as mifepristone and sold under the brand nameMifeprex, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in2000 to end pregnancies of no more than seven weeks.
Pro-choice advocates say the medication provides a safe, privateand non-surgical method of abortion, while anti-abortion activistshave decried it as unsafe and a too-easy method that will onlyencourage more women to terminate their pregnancies.
The FDA has recorded several cases of ``adverse events,'' somefatal, in women after taking RU-486. One woman who had an ectopicpregnancy (a pregnancy outside the uterus) died after taking thedrug. A 21-year-old woman suffered a fatal heart attack; and onewoman suffered a fatal systemic infection, also known as sepsis.But the FDA has not conclusively determined whether RU-486 wassolely to blame.
Monty Patterson, 49, says he doesn't want to point fingers, andhe isn't considering lawsuits.
He is sharing his daughter's story with the media, he says, tohelp other young women.
``Holly suffered in silence,'' Patterson said. ``I want to getthe message out: Don't let the fear and shame of it all keep youfrom going to your parents and loved ones.
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