THE Philippine Medical Association (PMA), the umbrella organization of medical doctors in the country, over the weekend urged the Department of Health (DOH) to study the possibility that certain “abortifacients” may be present in some inventories of the department’s family planning program.
PMA President Dr. Oscar Tinio stated in his letter to Health Secretary Enrique Ona that based on the principle, “life begins at fertilization.”
Anything that prevents the fertilized ovum to be implanted in the uterus may be considered as abortive and therefore, if prescribed, may violate our solemn oath as physicians to save and protect human life particularly the unborn.
This came after a consultative meeting was held recently between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the PMA wherein it was agreed upon that indeed “life begins at fertilization.”
Abortifacients 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.
According to Tinio, 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.
Contraceptives like intrauterine devices 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.
“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 pointed out.
“The Philippine Medical Association is volunteering to share our scientific and medical expertise to the Department of Health to shed more light on this issue in order for us to champion even more the sanctity of human life,” Tinio added in his amended letter to Health department.
The CBCP and the PMA is set to meet again early January next year. –SAMMY MARTIN, Manila Times
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