Pharmacy School and the Pill

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Jessamy

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This week was pretty cool because we discussed some ethical issues within pharmacy during one of our classes. My professor clearly laid out the mechanisms of OCs and the morning after pill, letting us know that you can’t be against one without being against the other because the mechanisms are exactly the same. He also discussed how the medical definition of pregnancy (implantation) isn’t what many people understand to be the beginning of life. He didn’t give his view at all, but explained that while by the medical definition of pregnancy the pill is not an abortifaicient, if you believe life starts at fertilization than it surely can act as one.

Most of the responses of my classmates were pretty liberal, but I was encouraged that the facts were laid out clearly. I think the discussion probably will cause a lot of people to do some thinking. My professor was very adamant that we all better decide where life begins. Before I frequented these forums I had no idea that the pill acts as an abortifacient, and now I’m never going to use it, whether I become Catholic or not. We also talked about whether pharmacists should be able to refuse to fill a prescription based on personal moral views. I did a little arguing on that point that in some cases filling a prescription could go against a pharmacist’s oath to help fellow humans, but I think my plan is to work somewhere where I won’t be required to fill birth control.

I do want to share the information I’ve learned because I think knowledge of birth control’s mechanisms are sorely lacking in the general population. Patient pamphlets actually leave out in a lot of cases the fact that OCs can prevent implantation by thinning the endometrium. I hope I can use my future position as a pharmacist to get this information out there, even if some people won’t care anyways.

Right now, I’m wondering how to reach out to my SIL. She’s a pretty liberal Catholic, but I know she is 100% against abortion. I’m pretty sure she is on OCs though and probably does not know that they can act as abortifacients. I’m thinking of sending her an email with a link to some information. I thought maybe it would be less confrontational than having a discussion with her about it, but that won’t let me gauge her response as I go. I’m just worried about her reaction because this is a very personal issue. Also the idea that I, a non-Catholic, would be giving her advice surrounding her own religious views seems a bit strange. I could also try talking to my brother, but I doubt he is as strongly against abortion as my SIL.

What does everyone think about this?
 
YOu could just tell her that you discovered something interesting in school and you wanted her opinion on the information. I think that would be flattering to her.
 
deb1 said:
YOu could just tell her that you discovered something interesting in school and you wanted her opinion on the information. I think that would be flattering to her.
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That sounds like an awesome idea, thank you! Then I wouldn’t have to assume she’s taking OCs either. I know she is contracepting, but I don’t know the method.
 
Jessamy said:
He didn’t give his view at all, but explained that while by the medical definition of pregnancy the pill is not an abortifaicient, if you believe life starts at fertilization than it surely can act as one.

What does everyone think about this?
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The important difference is that a woman who goes for a surgical abortion knows that she is pregnant. The woman who pops a pill doesn’t.
 
Jessamy said:
That sounds like an awesome idea, thank you! Then I wouldn’t have to assume she’s taking OCs either. I know she is contracepting, but I don’t know the method.
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**I agree that’s a wonderful way to approach it. Doesn’t step into the private areas of her life, but gives her some food for thought.👍 **
**I’ll add that if she approaches you for more information on birth control in general, I suggest you leave religion out of it. In my sad experience, people react better to the negative health aspect, than the sin aspect. 🙂 **
 
I was wondering about this, since my girlfriend was put on the pill in college not because she was having sex to prevent conception, but because she had an imbalance in her period and using the pill helped balance her body chemistry.

So, I was wondering would this be a situation where contraception would be appropriate? No sex, no chance of pregnacy just regulating her body chemistry. She only had to take the pill for a few months during college and has since stopped using it.
 
TDiGaetano said:
I was wondering about this, since my girlfriend was put on the pill in college not because she was having sex to prevent conception, but because she had an imbalance in her period and using the pill helped balance her body chemistry.

So, I was wondering would this be a situation where contraception would be appropriate? No sex, no chance of pregnacy just regulating her body chemistry. She only had to take the pill for a few months during college and has since stopped using it.
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It is a legitimate use of the hormones that the “pill” contains. But sex outside of marriage is still prohibited.
 
TDiGaetano said:
I was wondering about this, since my girlfriend was put on the pill in college not because she was having sex to prevent conception, but because she had an imbalance in her period and using the pill helped balance her body chemistry.

So, I was wondering would this be a situation where contraception would be appropriate? No sex, no chance of pregnacy just regulating her body chemistry. She only had to take the pill for a few months during college and has since stopped using it.
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i am not a doctor, but i believe once you stop using the pill, body “chemistry” will go back to how it was before. mine did. however, not after i endured harmful side effects of those stupid pills…
 
Jessamy said:
He also discussed how the medical definition of pregnancy (implantation) isn’t what many people understand to be the beginning of life
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No, he is incorrect in definining pregnancy as starting only with implantation. That is a modern manipulation of terminology in order to further the agenda of the contraceptive manufacturers and the Culture of Death. No implantation = no abortive effect.

However, it is scientific and medical fact that pregnancy begins with conception according to the study of Embryology, as well as other long-standing and unbiased medical research.

noroomforcontraception.com/pregnancy/Medical-definition-pregnancy-conception.htm
 
Bravo sister!

I am a pharmacist of conscience and a member of pfli.org. Check us out.

Oral ‘contraception’ is a misnomer… it often does NOT inhibit conception(the beginning of life), but it instead flushes that little life.

Tell your Catholic friends that they are in grave moral sin and are barred from receiving the Eucharist if they are using hormonal contraception of ANY kind(this is part of the Church’s INFALLIBLE teaching and CANNOT be refuted).

Aaron, Pharm.D.
CPT, USA

P.S.

My wife and 5 small children and I are joining the Church on Easter Vigil.
 
aaronlgates said:
Tell your Catholic friends that they are in grave moral sin and are barred from receiving the Eucharist if they are using hormonal contraception of ANY kind(this is part of the Church’s INFALLIBLE teaching and CANNOT be refuted).
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The same is true of Catholics using any kind birth control - hormonal or not. Contraception itself is grave sin.
 
TDiGaetano said:
I was wondering about this, since my girlfriend was put on the pill in college not because she was having sex to prevent conception, but because she had an imbalance in her period and using the pill helped balance her body chemistry.

So, I was wondering would this be a situation where contraception would be appropriate? No sex, no chance of pregnacy just regulating her body chemistry. She only had to take the pill for a few months during college and has since stopped using it.
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if it is not being used for contraception, but for an off label purpose, it is not, by definition a contraceptive, so not wrong. it would become wrong of course if she took advantage of her situation to engage in sex. she would be well advised, by the same medical professionals teaching OP’s course, to explore the side effects of the pill, far more dangerous than the condition she is battling, like using an elephant gun to shoot a squirrel, and consider more female-friendly treatments.

OP’s story also makes the point, completely overlooked in the debate, that science itself does not know and cannot reliably define when life begins. the Church has always relied on science for this definition, and errs on the side of caution when it comes to the point where science throws up its hands and says “we just don’t know.” the only prudent stance is to regard the inception of life at the earliest possible moment, until proven otherwise by science.
 
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