DOH urged to review contraceptives used in family planning program

MANILA, Philippines –  Life begins at fertilization.

Having agreed to this principle with the Catholic church, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) has asked the Department of Health (DOH) for an inventory of contraceptives used in its family planning program on fears that some may contain abortifacients.                                                             

In a letter to Health Secretary Enrique Ona, PMA president Dr. Oscar Tinio reported that during their consultative meeting with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on the Reproductive Health bill, it was agreed that life begins when fertilization occurs.                                                  

Therefore, anything that prevents the fertilized ovum from being implanted in the uterus may be considered abortive. “Therefore, if prescribed, these may violate our solemn oath as physicians to save and protect human life particularly the unborn,” Tinio said.                                                         

Abortifacients may include any device, drug, substance, or practice that may cause the expulsion of the fetus from the womb.                              

Against abortion                                                

“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 unborn child. The PMA and the CBCP stands united on this,” Tinio said.                                                           

The PMA had volunteered to provide its medical expertise to DOH to “shed more light” on the controversial bill and to “champion even more the sanctity of human life.”