abortion
WASHINGTON: A recent study points out that “moral objections and community opposition are common reasons rural physicians report for not performing abortions. Less is known about practices of physician assistants and nurse practitioners.” But, we note a greater number of physicians “report a willingness to prescribe medical abortifacients.”
(Reading: “Reproductive Health Services in Rural Washington State: Scope of Practice and Provision of Medical Abortions,” 1996-97; American Journal of Public Health, 4/00, pp. 624-626)
birth control pill
40TH ANNIVERSARY: The Alan Guttmacher Institute has devoted a large section of the current issue of Family Planning Perspectives to essays “by prominent reproductive health experts” to celebrate 40 years of the Pill.
chemical (medical) abortion
CANADA: Debate ensues about whether or not prescription-only emergency contraceptive pills should be distributed by autonomous decision of the pharmacist or whether the physician should still be involved. The two questions are: collaborative agreement/protocol and/or prescriptive authority requires regulation changes in Canada. The British Columbia Pharmacy Association and College of Pharmacists of British Columbia planned to have the ECP program in place by the first week of May. “This is not a definitive time-frame, however, given the discussion of provision options,” according to BCPA materials.
(Reading: “>British Columbia Pharmacy Association update #00-06, page 2, 3/29/00)
OVERVIEW: Researchers claim that “26 million pregnancies are terminated legally each year throughout the world, and 20 million are terminated illegally, with more than 78,000 deaths.” They claim that medical (chemical) abortions are the solution and review various methods including mifepristone (RU-486), methotrexate, misoprostol, epostane, and other chemicals. The article’s reliance for data on the Alan Guttmacher Institute corroborates the tone.
(Reading: “Medical Termination of Pregnancy,” New England Journal of Medicine, 3/30/00, pp. 946-956; paid subscription required for full text)
contraception
POPULATION CONTROL: The February 2000 issue of the Contraception Report addresses the role of contraception in the ongoing claims that population must be controlled. The publication states, “although fertility rates are declining, another three billion individuals may be added to the global population over the next half century. Rapid population growth strains essential resources and impedes economic progress in developing countries.” The issue also discusses the history of contraception.
(Reading: “Population Growth: Implications for Family Planning Services,” The Contraception Report, 2/00, pp. 14. This is a subscription-only publication.)
implantation
INTEGRINS and ENDOMETRIAL DATING: Two recent studies attempt to assess with accuracy the exact manner in which the endometrium responds to the attempted implantation of the human embryo.
(Reading: “Use of Integrins to Date the Endometrium,” Fertility and Sterility, 4/00, pp. 779-787; “Endometrial Dating and Determination of the Window of Implantation in Healthy Fertile Women,” Fertility and Sterility, 4/00, pp. 788-798; back issues are available; current issue by subscription only)
imposed death
ANALYSIS: Nancy Valko, R.N., has authored “Intentional Death in America: Beyond the Hype.”
IS IT KILLING? Dr. Marcia Angell writes, “many deaths in American hospitals occur after an explicit decision is made by patients or their proxies to limit life-sustaining treatment. Removing a ventilator from a dying patient hastens death just as surely as providing a prescription for a lethal dose of medication. In both cases, the act is a response to the wishes of a suffering patient who is choosing not between life and death, but between a lingering death and a more humane one.”
(Reading: “Caring for the Dying: Congressional Mischief,” letter by Marcia Angell, M.D., New England Journal of Medicine; paid subscription required for full text)
partial-birth abortion
STENBERG v. CARHART: The United States Supreme Court will hear arguments on Tuesday, April 25, on the Nebraska state partial-birth abortion law, which contains the following exception language [Section 28-328]: “(1) No partial-birth abortion shall be performed in this state, unless such procedure is necessary to save the life of the mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.”
COMMENT: In other words, the court will rule on a bill that is constructed in such a way that not a single child’s life will be saved, even if the law is upheld!
(Reading: “Stenberg v. Carhart – the Issue Goes to the U. S. Supreme Court,” Partial Birth Abortion Laws update; Supreme Court briefs include those filed by the state of Nebraska, Agudath Israel of America and Congressman Charles Canady.)
personhood
IVF PRACTITIONER’S VIEW: Authors of editorial comment write that because of ongoing controversy emanating from diverse opinions regarding the humanity of the single cell embryo (human being, person), “an examination of the roots of our belief may help in converting controversy into consensus.”
COMMENT: Biological fact makes it clear, and human embryology textbooks concur, that a human being exists at conception (fertilization). No consensus is needed, unless it would draw those who profit to the tune of millions of dollars by deceiving the infertile into believing that in vitro fertilization is a moral practice.
(Reading: “On Assisted Reproduction, Religion and Civil Law,” Fertility and Sterility, 4/00, pp. 447-452; back issues are available, current issue by subscription only.)
politics
BUCHANAN REFORM: The Patrick Buchanan website details the candidate’s position on abortion, and enunciates support for “an act of Congress conferring constitutional rights of personhood on unborn children” and for “a human life amendment to protect all unborn children.”
selective reduction (a/k/a eugenics)
SECOND TRIMESTER SUCCESSES: Researchers point out that the major advantage to selective second-trimester multi-fetal pregnancy reduction “may be the ability to detect structural and chromosomal anomalies prior to the procedure and facilitate selective reduction of an affected fetus, with pregnancy outcome that is at least similar to that of first trimester MFPR.”
(Reading: “Second-Trimester Multifetal Pregnancy Reduction Facilitates Prenatal Diagnosis Before the Procedure,” Fertility and Sterility, 3/00, pp. 505-508; current issue by subscription only.)
stem cell research
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF DEATH: Randy Engel, director of the Michael Fund, submitted comments to NIH, including: “The ‘H’ in NIH stands for ‘Health,’ although it could readily stand for ‘Human’ and not detract from its primary mission to improve the health of human beings. Those individuals within the NIH who unfortunately have succeeded to a large extent in transforming the National Institutes of Health into the National Institutes of Death-and who apparently have difficulty in distinguishing the role of the physician from that of a veterinarian-should be declared persona non grata at the NIH, or to borrow an NIH expression, rendered ‘non-viable.'”
(Reading: 2/21/00 comments submitted to NIH Office of Science Policy from the International Foundation for Genetic Research/The Michael Fund. The document cited above is not on the web, but you may request the document sent via regular mail by contacting “>Randy Engel; current news is available from the Stem Cell Research site)
reflection for prayer
It is true every one is desirous of acting according to his own liking; and is more inclined to such as are of his own mind. But if God be amongst us we must sometimes give up our own opinion for the sake of peace. Who is so wise as to be able fully to know all things?
Therefore trust not too much to thine own thoughts, but be willing also to hear the sentiments of others. Although thy opinion be good, yet if for God’s sake thou leave it to follow that of another it will be more profitable to thee. For I have often heard that it is more safe to hear and to take counsel than to give it.
It may also happen that each one’s thought may be good; but to refuse to yield to others, when reason or a just cause requires it, is a sign of pride and willfulness.
-Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Book 1, Chapter 10
WASHINGTON: A recent study points out that “moral objections and community opposition are common reasons rural physicians report for not performing abortions. Less is known about practices of physician assistants and nurse practitioners.” But, we note a greater number of physicians “report a willingness to prescribe medical abortifacients.”
(Reading: “Reproductive Health Services in Rural Washington State: Scope of Practice and Provision of Medical Abortions,” 1996-97; American Journal of Public Health, 4/00, pp. 624-626)
birth control pill
40TH ANNIVERSARY: The Alan Guttmacher Institute has devoted a large section of the current issue of Family Planning Perspectives to essays “by prominent reproductive health experts” to celebrate 40 years of the Pill.
chemical (medical) abortion
CANADA: Debate ensues about whether or not prescription-only emergency contraceptive pills should be distributed by autonomous decision of the pharmacist or whether the physician should still be involved. The two questions are: collaborative agreement/protocol and/or prescriptive authority requires regulation changes in Canada. The British Columbia Pharmacy Association and College of Pharmacists of British Columbia planned to have the ECP program in place by the first week of May. “This is not a definitive time-frame, however, given the discussion of provision options,” according to BCPA materials.
(Reading: “>British Columbia Pharmacy Association update #00-06, page 2, 3/29/00)
OVERVIEW: Researchers claim that “26 million pregnancies are terminated legally each year throughout the world, and 20 million are terminated illegally, with more than 78,000 deaths.” They claim that medical (chemical) abortions are the solution and review various methods including mifepristone (RU-486), methotrexate, misoprostol, epostane, and other chemicals. The article’s reliance for data on the Alan Guttmacher Institute corroborates the tone.
(Reading: “Medical Termination of Pregnancy,” New England Journal of Medicine, 3/30/00, pp. 946-956; paid subscription required for full text)
contraception
POPULATION CONTROL: The February 2000 issue of the Contraception Report addresses the role of contraception in the ongoing claims that population must be controlled. The publication states, “although fertility rates are declining, another three billion individuals may be added to the global population over the next half century. Rapid population growth strains essential resources and impedes economic progress in developing countries.” The issue also discusses the history of contraception.
(Reading: “Population Growth: Implications for Family Planning Services,” The Contraception Report, 2/00, pp. 14. This is a subscription-only publication.)
implantation
INTEGRINS and ENDOMETRIAL DATING: Two recent studies attempt to assess with accuracy the exact manner in which the endometrium responds to the attempted implantation of the human embryo.
(Reading: “Use of Integrins to Date the Endometrium,” Fertility and Sterility, 4/00, pp. 779-787; “Endometrial Dating and Determination of the Window of Implantation in Healthy Fertile Women,” Fertility and Sterility, 4/00, pp. 788-798; back issues are available; current issue by subscription only)
imposed death
ANALYSIS: Nancy Valko, R.N., has authored “Intentional Death in America: Beyond the Hype.”
IS IT KILLING? Dr. Marcia Angell writes, “many deaths in American hospitals occur after an explicit decision is made by patients or their proxies to limit life-sustaining treatment. Removing a ventilator from a dying patient hastens death just as surely as providing a prescription for a lethal dose of medication. In both cases, the act is a response to the wishes of a suffering patient who is choosing not between life and death, but between a lingering death and a more humane one.”
(Reading: “Caring for the Dying: Congressional Mischief,” letter by Marcia Angell, M.D., New England Journal of Medicine; paid subscription required for full text)
partial-birth abortion
STENBERG v. CARHART: The United States Supreme Court will hear arguments on Tuesday, April 25, on the Nebraska state partial-birth abortion law, which contains the following exception language [Section 28-328]: “(1) No partial-birth abortion shall be performed in this state, unless such procedure is necessary to save the life of the mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.”
COMMENT: In other words, the court will rule on a bill that is constructed in such a way that not a single child’s life will be saved, even if the law is upheld!
(Reading: “Stenberg v. Carhart – the Issue Goes to the U. S. Supreme Court,” Partial Birth Abortion Laws update; Supreme Court briefs include those filed by the state of Nebraska, Agudath Israel of America and Congressman Charles Canady.)
personhood
IVF PRACTITIONER’S VIEW: Authors of editorial comment write that because of ongoing controversy emanating from diverse opinions regarding the humanity of the single cell embryo (human being, person), “an examination of the roots of our belief may help in converting controversy into consensus.”
COMMENT: Biological fact makes it clear, and human embryology textbooks concur, that a human being exists at conception (fertilization). No consensus is needed, unless it would draw those who profit to the tune of millions of dollars by deceiving the infertile into believing that in vitro fertilization is a moral practice.
(Reading: “On Assisted Reproduction, Religion and Civil Law,” Fertility and Sterility, 4/00, pp. 447-452; back issues are available, current issue by subscription only.)
politics
BUCHANAN REFORM: The Patrick Buchanan website details the candidate’s position on abortion, and enunciates support for “an act of Congress conferring constitutional rights of personhood on unborn children” and for “a human life amendment to protect all unborn children.”
selective reduction (a/k/a eugenics)
SECOND TRIMESTER SUCCESSES: Researchers point out that the major advantage to selective second-trimester multi-fetal pregnancy reduction “may be the ability to detect structural and chromosomal anomalies prior to the procedure and facilitate selective reduction of an affected fetus, with pregnancy outcome that is at least similar to that of first trimester MFPR.”
(Reading: “Second-Trimester Multifetal Pregnancy Reduction Facilitates Prenatal Diagnosis Before the Procedure,” Fertility and Sterility, 3/00, pp. 505-508; current issue by subscription only.)
stem cell research
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF DEATH: Randy Engel, director of the Michael Fund, submitted comments to NIH, including: “The ‘H’ in NIH stands for ‘Health,’ although it could readily stand for ‘Human’ and not detract from its primary mission to improve the health of human beings. Those individuals within the NIH who unfortunately have succeeded to a large extent in transforming the National Institutes of Health into the National Institutes of Death-and who apparently have difficulty in distinguishing the role of the physician from that of a veterinarian-should be declared persona non grata at the NIH, or to borrow an NIH expression, rendered ‘non-viable.'”
(Reading: 2/21/00 comments submitted to NIH Office of Science Policy from the International Foundation for Genetic Research/The Michael Fund. The document cited above is not on the web, but you may request the document sent via regular mail by contacting “>Randy Engel; current news is available from the Stem Cell Research site)
reflection for prayer
It is true every one is desirous of acting according to his own liking; and is more inclined to such as are of his own mind. But if God be amongst us we must sometimes give up our own opinion for the sake of peace. Who is so wise as to be able fully to know all things?
Therefore trust not too much to thine own thoughts, but be willing also to hear the sentiments of others. Although thy opinion be good, yet if for God’s sake thou leave it to follow that of another it will be more profitable to thee. For I have often heard that it is more safe to hear and to take counsel than to give it.
It may also happen that each one’s thought may be good; but to refuse to yield to others, when reason or a just cause requires it, is a sign of pride and willfulness.
-Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Book 1, Chapter 10