Several conservative lawmakers on Wednesday urged Congress to order a halt to sales of the abortion pill RU-486 and require further safety review after the drug’s maker announced that five women taking it had died from bacterial infections.The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday alerted the public to the deaths and new warning information on the drug’s label. But the lawmakers said that is inadequate."Congress needs to act to take this deadly drug off the market and force a serious review of its safety,” said South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint, who joined with Republicans Sam Brownback of Kansas and David Vitter of Louisiana to back new legislation. The three lawmakers oppose abortion.Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Melissa Hart, who joined them at a news conference, is sponsoring companion legislation in the House.RU-486, also known as Mifeprex or mifepristone, is approved for terminating a pregnancy of 49 days or less.
