Holly's Law was a proposed law which would have banned mifepristone

Mifepristone

Mifepristone is a synthetic steroid compound used as a pharmaceutical. It is a progesterone receptor antagonist used as an abortifacient in the first months of pregnancy, and in smaller doses as an emergency contraceptive. During early trials, it was known as RU-38486 or simply RU-486, its...

 in the United States. The ostensible reason was concern over the drug's safety, though much of the support for the measure has come from pro-life

Pro-life

Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...

 groups that oppose the drug on principle.

Holly's Law was named after Holly Patterson, an 18-year-old woman who was believed to have been the third woman in the United States who died after taking Mifepristone

Mifepristone

Mifepristone is a synthetic steroid compound used as a pharmaceutical. It is a progesterone receptor antagonist used as an abortifacient in the first months of pregnancy, and in smaller doses as an emergency contraceptive. During early trials, it was known as RU-38486 or simply RU-486, its...

 (also called RU-486). She died shortly after following the mifepristone dose with a vaginal dose of misoprostol

Misoprostol

Misoprostol is a drug that is used for the prevention of non steroidal anti inflammatory drug induced gastric ulcers, for early abortion, to treat missed miscarriage, and to induce labor. The latter use is controversial in the United States. Misoprostol was invented and marketed by G.D...

.

External sources

• An Open Letter From the Parents of Holly Patterson - Death by RU-486, a similar bill, the "RU-486 Suspension and Review Act of 2007"