Though mifepristone, commonly known as RU-486, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration, it will not be provided by doctors at the Ohio State Student Health Center, but may be available at the OSU Medical Center based on the physician’s discretion.RU-486, also known as the abortion pill, is an alternative to surgical abortion.Ted Grace, director of Student Health Services, said administering RU-486 will be too costly and requires more attention and expertise than can be provided at the Health Center.”RU-486 would increase the level of care and complexity. None of our providers have hospital privileges in case there is an emergency. It (RU-486) requires a degree of follow-up care and skill that can’t be offered at the Health Center,” Grace said.Grace said that the University of Kansas, the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Northwestern University and Minnesota University, have also decided to not provide the drug at their health centers, though the debate has not been resolved at other universities.According to the FDA, mifepristone must be taken within 49 days of the beginning of the woman’s last period. Three mifepristone pills are taken. Two days later she returns to the doctor for misoprostol, a drug that when combined with mifepristone, causes the woman to have contractions and expel the embryo.A return visit to the doctor’s office within two weeks is required to make sure the abortion is complete. Physicians who prescribe mifepristone must also be able to provide surgical intervention in cases of incomplete abortion or severe bleeding, or they must have made plans in advance to provide such care through others.Mark Blumenfeld, medical director of the OBGYN clinic at the OSU Medical Center, said the decision to administer RU-486 will be made by the physician.”I think it’s at the doctor’s discretion. Some physicians will provide it, and others won’t. I don’t think there will be a hospital ban on the drug,” Blumenfeld said.”I think it’s a good thing in terms of access because there are only eight out of 88 counties in Ohio that provide surgical abortions,” said Lisa Perks, executive director of Central Ohio’s Planned Parenthood. Perks also cited a survey of doctors that do not perform surgical abortions, which found that one of three of those doctors would provide RU-486.Although RU-486 may increase access to abortions, it may not be more affordable than the surgical alternative. Perks said that the cost of a surgical abortion ranges from $300 to about $400 and that RU-486 could be the same price or a little more expensive.”It’s a three visit process and the cost of the entire procedure would be comprised of the cost of the pills and office visits,” Perks said. Grace added that patients will probably also be charged for the cost of the ultrasound used in the initial office visit. Carl Schweisthal, leader of Campus Crusade for Christ, said he worries that it may make abortion too easy.”I think it’s a disregard for human life. It’s abortion no matter how it happens,” Schweisthal said.Women unable to take RU-486 include those with a suspected or confirmed tubal pregnancy, chronic failure of the adrenal glands, bleeding disorders or those allergic to mifepristone or misoprostal. RU-486 causes cramping and vaginal bleeding. The bleeding and spotting typically lasts for between nine and 16 days. In about one of 100 women, the bleeding is so heavy that it requires surgery. Other possible side effects of RU-486 include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness and back pain.According to the FDA, RU-486 was initially introduced and approved in Europe in 1988, and since then 620,000 women have used the drug.