Doctors seek ban on abortifacients

[arkikuku]

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MANILA, Dec. 13, 2010— The Philippines’ largest group of doctors urged the Department of Health to get rid of “abortifacients” that may be present in inventories of the agency’s family planning program.

The Philippine Medical Association (PMA), the umbrella organization of medical practitioners in the country, made the appeal in a letter to DOH Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona dated December 10.

PMA President Dr. Oscar Tinio reiterated that “life begins at fertilization” and anything that prevents the fertilized ovum to be implanted in the uterus is considered “abortive.”

“And therefore, if prescribed, may violate our solemn oath as physicians to save and protect human life particularly the unborn,” Tinio said.

The letter to Ona was an offshoot of last week’s consultative meeting between the PMA and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) wherein both parties agreed on the premise that life begins during fertilization.

Abortifacients, the PMA said, may include any device, medicine, substance, practice which may damage, injure interfere or recklessly endanger or cause the expulsion or death of the unborn child.

“If life begins at fertilization, anything therefore that prevents the implantation of the living fertilized ovum in the uterus of the mother is abortive,” Tinio said.

A fertilized ovum results from the union of the sperm and egg which both the CBCP and PMA believe at this stage possesses life.

In order for this living ovum to survive it has to be implanted in the uterus where it will be nourished and given the chance to develop, the doctors said.

“Contraceptives like intrauterine devices (IUDs) and certain hormones affect the environment of the uterus which ultimately will result in the failure of the living fertilized ovum to be implanted and survive,” they added.

“The PMA is against abortion and so is the CBCP. We doctors took an oath to save and protect human life and that includes the unborn child. The PMA and the CBCP stands united on this,” Tinio said.

Tinio said they are also willing to share their scientific and medical expertise to the DOH “to shed more light on the issue in order for us to champion even more the sanctity of human life.”

PMA has a national membership of almost 70,000 medical practitioners. It also has 118 component societies geographically distributed nationwide, 8 specialty divisions, 56 subspecialty divisions, and 37 affiliate societies. (CBCPNews)

[terrence]

kudos to the PMA doctors. kudos to all pro LIFE

[AmorsoloX]

condom nalang jud... and other safe contraceptives

[PaYaSo]

i see this thread going somewhere in the next few days.

[Saga]

^^ hahaha... word war 3?

if nagkasabot na sila nga life begins at fertilization jud then ma consider jud nga abortion tong uban...

but once again we still need to consider cases like rape victims.. they should be given the chance to decide whether to cancel pregnancy or not.... morning after pill.

[necrotic freak]

condom nalang jud... and other safe contraceptives

based sa imong na sulayan bro unsa may pinaka safe nga contraceptives?

[I-lab-Iero]

Doctors are there to save lives,
it makes sense.

[barangaykonsehal]

"...We doctors took an oath to save and protect human life and that includes the unborn child..." very well said

[AmorsoloX]

based sa imong na sulayan bro unsa may pinaka safe nga contraceptives?

if i tell you, basin sugaton ko shotgun ni misis pag-uli...

condoms...

but mas convenient jud ang pills.. ma-feel jud ninu mag-partner tanan

there are some other benifits with pills man sab.. theres even a research that says pills make women prettier (nice.... ) and reduces risk of cancer...

ang least effective would by rhythm method or calendar..

tried it, gawas lage amo 3rd child. maski wa sa plano.

[necrotic freak]

^^tinuod gyud risky kaayo nang rhythm method.. mao pod na nga naka duha mi..