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PubHealth.info®
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PakMed) presents scientific information mainly
based on abstracts of articles published on a variety of public health issues/topics,
particularly encompassing
population planning, disease prevention, maternal and child health,
and communicable and
non-communicable diseases (like HIV AIDS, malaria, etc) that are
affecting a significant portion of population in developing and
developed
countries. Here you can find abstracts of articles published on a variety of public health
topics under category "Contraception
(Birth Control) and Family Planning".
Contraception (birth control)
is a regimen of one or more actions, devices, or medications followed in
order to deliberately prevent or reduce the likelihood of a woman
becoming pregnant or giving birth. Therefore contraception is the
utilization of various and sundry surgical procedures, devices,
practices, agents, or drugs with the intention of preventing conception
or impregnation (pregnancy). Methods and intentions typically termed
birth control may be considered a pivotal ingredient to family
planning. Birth control is a controversial political and ethical
issue in many cultures and religions, and although it is generally less
controversial than abortion specifically. |
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| CATEGORY: |
Contraception (Birth Control) and Family Planning |
| Postcoital contraception [letter] |
| Lancet. 1983 May 14;1(8333):1107. |
| The final paragraph of your April 16 editorial begs the question on the ethical issues and because of this I cannot |
| accept that postcoital methods can be "classified as contraceptive rather than abortive." Such an assertion can only |
| confuse the issue for those who have no ethical objection to preventing fertilization (i.e., to contraception proper) but |
| who find the deliberate prevention of implantation of a fertilized ovum ethically and morally unacceptable, and even |
| repugnant. In achieving in vitro fertilization scientists have established what reason and common sense asserts-- |
| that with fertilization a new human life begins, which is distinct from the life of the progenitors. The onus of proof |
| rests on those who assert otherwise. If we accept that it is "illogical to assign to the unsuccessful or not-yet- |
| successful blastocyst the same value as is rightly given to human life after blacentation" because "more than 1/2 of |
| all fertilized eggs are lost in the menstrual flow" then we must conclude that the life of a 22-week fetus is less |
| valuable than that of the newborn baby or that the life of a baby is less valuable than that of the adult because so |
| many fail to survive. Indeed on the same reasoning we could assert that the life of infants in the 3rd World are less |
| valuable than those of children in developed countries. You rightly assert that "woman's uncertainty about the ethics |
| of this intervention" is a contraindication to postcoital contraception. This would imply that the onus is on the doctor |
| to clarify the mode of action of any methods of "contraception" suggested. It is only in the light of such knowledge |
| that a woman can give informed consent. Such an informed consent could only be given in the clear understanding |
| that the difference between a fertilized ovum and an unfertilized ovum is 1 of essence whereas the difference |
| between a fertilized ovum is merely 1 of time, development, and location. (PubHealth.info Document ID: CONT5T |
| PubHealth.info NOTE: The author(s) of this article titled, "Postcoital contraception [letter]", is(are) McGuinness MN. |
| The source of this article is "Lancet. 1983 May 14;1(8333):1107.". This article was published in 1983 in English |
| language(s). (PubHealth.info® Document ID: CONT5T 2091-06. All rights reserved with PubHealth.info) PIN: 22091 |
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