“Abortion pill” coming to the Vegas valley

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Monday, Nov. 20, 2000 | 4:51 a.m.

The controversial abortion pill should be available in Las Vegas in the next two weeks, giving local women access to the drug RU-486 for the first time.

The pill, also known as mifepristone, was approved in September by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States after more than a decade of emotional debate. The pill has been used in France since 1988.

Local physician William Ramos expects to offer the drug at the A-Z Women's Center by Dec. 5. He leaves for Paris next week to train with physicians who have been dispensing RU-486 for years.

Ramos has also completed the RU-486 training session mandated by the drug's manufacturer, Danco Laboratories LLC, prior to buying the pills.

Another local abortion provider, The Birth Control Care Center, also put in an order for the pills and expects to have them available in two weeks as well.