Emergency contraception for Rape?

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Monicathree

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Hi all,

I tried to post this on the Apologist link, don’t know what happened?

The person I am sponsoring for this Easter Vigil said that she was taught the following in RCIA as Catholic Teaching…

If a woman is raped she may seek immediate “medical treatment” (not for cuts bruises etc) but contraception since they don’t know if conception has occured yet.

I told her for this specific reason that did not sound correct. I need some (name removed by moderator)ut from you all, because if they are teaching new converts or anyone error, especially when it comes to life situations…I am going to make something of this. We already have enough cafeteria catholics here as it is. Thanks in advance.

peace
 
It might sound wrong, but this is true. The Church allows emergency contraception in the case of rape – but only if it can be determined that conception has not yet occurred. The reasoning behind this is that rape is not a conjugal union, but an assault. The requirement that a person be open to life does not come into play, as they were not open to the act to begin with.
 
i am not sure that is not proper advice… seeking medical assistance for possible STD’s I would highly reccommend…

wouldn’t you?
 
How can it be determined if conception occurred or not??
 
It takes between 1 and 2 days after intercourse for an ovum to be fertilized. Therefore, if the rape victim goes to the hospital less than 24 hours after being raped, emergency contraception can be provided. After 24 hours it is not allowed.
 
:hmmm: :hmmm: Your (name removed by moderator)ut is something really to think about. Thank you.

But, is it a scientic fact that conception does not occur in the first 24 hrs? What about the women who say that they knew they conceived right after the marital act???

peace
 
But, is it a scientic fact that conception does not occur in the first 24 hrs? What about the women who say that they knew they conceived right after the marital act???
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That’s what I have read, both in general and regarding the Church’s decision in this matter.

Regarding women who “know” they have conceived, I would think that either way it would be an instinct or an assumption later proved right. Even if conception could occur immediately, there would be no biological way to sense this, as it occurs on the cellular level.
 
Great question, even if it is hypothetical. Rather than give an opinion, I’m going to do some research. BTW I’ve also heard the 24 to 72 hours after the sexual act. the conception is not consider to have occurred until the fertilized egg is implanted and transferring. This takes between 24 and 72 hours. Until that time its just a fertilized egg, it can not develop on its own, it needs to be implanted to develop.
 
This is what you’re looking for:

“Compassionate and understanding care should be given to a person who is the victim of sexual assault. Health care providers should cooperate with law enforcement officials and offer the person psychological and spiritual support as well as accurate medical information. A female who has been raped should be able to defend herself against a potential conception from the sexual assault. If, after appropriate testing, there is no evidence that conception has occurred already, she may be treated with medications that would prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization. It is not permissible, however, to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum.”

“Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services”, Fourth Edition, #36, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
 
Emergency contraception in this case means a chemical abortifacient. Contraception means to prevent conception. Abortifacient is what you do after its too late to prevent it. In this case, you are POSSIBLY sentencing a newly conceived baby with captial punishment for the crime of its father without a trial. This is a clear violation of due process. Oops, wait, if forgot, preborn babies only have rights if the mother thinks its okay. Sorry, please disregard.
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Monicathree:
Hi all,

I tried to post this on the Apologist link, don’t know what happened?

The person I am sponsoring for this Easter Vigil said that she was taught the following in RCIA as Catholic Teaching…

If a woman is raped she may seek immediate “medical treatment” (not for cuts bruises etc) but contraception since they don’t know if conception has occured yet.

I told her for this specific reason that did not sound correct. I need some (name removed by moderator)ut from you all, because if they are teaching new converts or anyone error, especially when it comes to life situations…I am going to make something of this. We already have enough cafeteria catholics here as it is. Thanks in advance.

peace
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Scott_Lafrance:
Emergency contraception in this case means a chemical abortifacient. Contraception means to prevent conception. Abortifacient is what you do after its too late to prevent it. In this case, you are POSSIBLY sentencing a newly conceived baby with captial punishment for the crime of its father without a trial. This is a clear violation of due process. Oops, wait, if forgot, preborn babies only have rights if the mother thinks its okay. Sorry, please disregard.
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It’s only an abortifacient if there is an embryo present. The Church is very clear that there must be no evidence of fertilization for emergency contraception to be morally licit. The idea is to expel the ovum before conception can occur.
 
From my understanding, there are very simple tests that can be done to determine if fertilization has taken place. However, it is never okay to force a fertilized egg from the womb just because of the circumstances of the how the life came to be.
 
Dr. Colossus:
It’s only an abortifacient if there is an embryo present. The Church is very clear that there must be no evidence of fertilization for emergency contraception to be morally licit. The idea is to expel the ovum before conception can occur.
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Granted, however, since conception theoretically can happen within 12 hours of intercourse, and there is no test on earth sensitive enough to detect this, the assumption must be made that it has occured. There additionally is no mechanism that exists that can prevent sperm from fertilizing the egg AFTER the sexual act has been consumated. The only possible thing that could work is a vaginal lavage with a sperimcide within 12 hours after the incident. Considering most women don’t report for 12-24 hours after the event, and the medical examiner is required to process a sexual assault kit before doing any medical treatment, the possiblity of this happening is incredibly remote. Essentially, the woman would have to be brought in for treatment immediately after the incident, processed for evidence, and THEN treated. Its a mighty small timeframe to work with.
 
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MariaG:
From my understanding, there are very simple tests that can be done to determine if fertilization has taken place. However, it is never okay to force a fertilized egg from the womb just because of the circumstances of the how the life came to be.
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The only tests that can detect fertilization are those that detect above average levels of human chorionic gonadatropin (HcG). This usually doesn’t occur until the conceptus has moved downthe fallopian tube and has embedded in the wall of the uterus 93-5 days after conception). Once this occurs, the body begins to produce increasing levels of HcG. One way that an OB can tell how long you’ve been pregnant is by your HcG levels. But,as I’ve indicated, this increased output doesn’t happen until 3-5 days after conception, adn then we are talking about a person, not an egg and sperm.
 
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Vincent:
This is what you’re looking for:

“Compassionate and understanding care should be given to a person who is the victim of sexual assault. Health care providers should cooperate with law enforcement officials and offer the person psychological and spiritual support as well as accurate medical information. A female who has been raped should be able to defend herself against a potential conception from the sexual assault. If, after appropriate testing, there is no evidence that conception has occurred already, she may be treated with medications that would prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization. It is not permissible, however, to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum.”

“Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services”, Fourth Edition, #36, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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Thank you Vincent, that’s exactly what I’ve been looking for. We all may have our own opinions on this matter, but, let’s all be Catholic and follow the teachings of the Bishops. No more, no less. Most of the Church teachings on contraception deal with the matter in the confines of a marriage, not in the case of a rape.
 
See, esp. Scott, this is my problem with this. I have the same logic as you. How really do we know for sure. You said 12 hrs. someone else says 27-72. This is sticky and I want to make sure that the person I am sponsoring, the potential converts in that class and all, including myself are clear about this.

What about that excerpt provided by the Bishops??

Regardless, is it agreed and understood that if we know that conception has not occurred, it is then alright to contracept because this is an assault, not a consumated act of unitive love?

Peace
 
I think I misspoke. It is very easy to determine if *ovulation has *occurred. If ovulation has already occurred, then the drug could not be given since we can not know if fertilization has occurred. However, if ovulation has not yet occurred, then measures can be taken to prevent fertilization.

This is an opinion that I do not remember where I read it. So I do not know if it truly reflects Catholic teaching.

Kind of like asking Mrs. Lincoln how the play was. Not very helpful. Sorry.

God Bless,
Maria
 
In light of the policy published by the bishops, it would be wise to educate all Catholic women about the need to report a rape promptly. Unfortunately most women wait days or even weeks to report. If they knew about this directive, it might give them a reason to report immediately, despite the paralyzing effects of such a trauma, and to seek appropriate testing and prevention.
Paul
 
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Tom:
We all may have our own opinions on this matter, but, let’s all be Catholic and follow the teachings of the Bishops. No more, no less.
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Excellent idea! Or as they say in smiley-language:

:amen:
 
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Monicathree:
See, esp. Scott, this is my problem with this. I have the same logic as you. How really do we know for sure. You said 12 hrs. someone else says 27-72. This is sticky and I want to make sure that the person I am sponsoring, the potential converts in that class and all, including myself are clear about this.

What about that excerpt provided by the Bishops??

Regardless, is it agreed and understood that if we know that conception has not occurred, it is then alright to contracept because this is an assault, not a consumated act of unitive love?

Peace
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if you notice the quote:
“Compassionate and understanding care should be given to a person who is the victim of sexual assault. Health care providers should cooperate with law enforcement officials and offer the person psychological and spiritual support as well as accurate medical information. A female who has been raped should be able to defend herself against a potential conception from the sexual assault. If, after appropriate testing, there is no evidence that conception has occurred already, she may be treated with medications that would prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization. It is not permissible, however, to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum.”
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“Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services”, Fourth Edition, #36, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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it does not give any clear time limit.
i suspect the bishops would have done a thorough search for medical literature and found that there is no definitive time-limit given.
i would think that there no fixed time. as in all things in medicine, the best that can be done is suggest a range, an outer limit and an inner limit.
thus, the intention of the bishops is to lay down the principle of the use of contraception in a case of rape, and not a definite time-limit (that would be scientifically impossible right now.
i would suggest that you do a proper medical lit. search on this matter and see what the most authoritative sources say on the topic of the earliest posible time following sex when conception can occur and take that as a cut-off for the time being til science sheds further light on the topic.

BTW i have a question in this regard.
i ask this coz i’m an indian and here, the law did not recognise till recently (i’m not sure it is any different now legally) that sexual intercourse within marriage cannot be classified as rape even if it was forced. what’s your take on this?
is sexual assalut within marriage rape and do the rules discussed above apply to it too?
 
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