Doctors, bishops agree: Life begins at fertilization

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have agreed that life begins during fertilization, thus the need to protect unborn babies in the reproductive health bill.

But the PMA is “not necessarily against artificial family planning,” said Dr. Arthur Catli, PMA executive director.

That life begins at fertilization was one of the few “commonalities” found between the two groups at the first in a series of consultation meetings on the proposed measure held Monday at the PMA compound in Quezon City.

The PMA delegation was headed by Catli, while the CBCP delegation was led by its secretary general, Msgr. Juanito Figura.

“We welcome these consultations because of the impact of the RH issue on the nation” Catli said in a statement sent to the Inquirer.

He said that during the meeting, the PMA through its specialty society—the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society—represented by its president, Dr. Sylvia Carnero, confirmed that “life begins during fertilization.”

This stand is also shared by the CBCP, Catli said. “The PMA is against abortion and so is the CBCP.

“We doctors took an oath to save and protect human life and that definitely includes the child. No doubt the CBCP supports our stand on this,” he said.

“Above all, we came to know that the PMA and CBCP found commonalities in this controversial issue,” Catli added.

He described the meeting as cordial.

No clear stand

But Catli said the PMA, which counts 70,000 doctors as members, had yet to come up with a clear stand on the reproductive health bill, saying it preferred talking first to the protagonists in the debate before the groups agreed on a stand.

He called on proponents of the bill to dialogue with the PMA to thresh out issues related to the bill.

“We are also willing to talk to RH advocates. The time for argument is over. It’s time to talk,” he told reporters on Monday.

Catli said the PMA was open to talking to representatives of the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development and Congress.

“We are very willing to provide our expertise to help with policy issues and the passage of good legislation,” Catli said.

Dialogue with Palace

Earlier the CBCP president, Bishop Nereo Odchimar, said the bishops would consult legal and medical experts to help them prepare for a dialogue with Malacañang on controversial issues that surround government efforts to shape a reproductive health policy.

Dr. Oscar Tinio, PMA president, said the PMA would voluntarily offer its scientific and medical expertise on reproductive health to both the government and the Church.

“Medical doctors are major stakeholders and front-liners in the reproductive health and wellness of our nation and we should be involved in any discussions concerning the issue,” Tinio said.

Ticklish issue

Catli acknowledged that the issue of abortion to save the life of the mother was still “a ticklish issue within the PMA.”

He said the medical group was for the use of condoms to prevent HIV and AIDS but recognized that there were “pros and cons” on its use for birth control.

As a matter of protocol, some of the PMA members may propose artificial means of family planning to patients to give them “informed choices,” with the final decision resting on the patient, according to Catli. –Philippine Daily Inquirer, with reports from Cynthia D. Balana and Alcuin Papa