Abortion pill court action

The Abortion Supervisory Committee has filed proceedings in the High Court at Wellington in an attempt to clarify legislation for the use of the abortion pill RU-486.

Committee chairwoman Lesley Rothwell said the committee wanted to clarify whether women treated with the drug, also known as Mifepristone, "are required to remain in a hospital or clinic until the embryo or foetus has been expelled".

Most surgical abortions take half an hour or less, but RU-486's drug-induced medical method can take three days. The pill was introduced in August last year, but clinics have resisted using it and sought legal opinions on their obligations to care for women after the treatment.