Plan B. Ok to administer?

[Canuck000]

I’m new here, and currently going to inquiry, planning to start RCIA classes in Aug.

I’ve been an RN for many years working in a hospital setting. I studied forensic nursing a few years ago and work in the same hospital with the forensics department, where I care for patients whom are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Part of this care is offer and administer Plan B to the victims of sexual assault.

I’ve been studying a lot regarding Catholicism, attending Mass 2 times a week. I’m beginning to question myself regarding the offer and administration of this medication.

Where does the Church stand on this? Just say the word and I’ll resign from this part of my nursing although I feel very confident that I’m providing an excellent support for these people, and with proper collection of the evidence, the suspects are landing in jail.

Oh, and I’ve been finding lots of very helpful information here. Thank you so much for this site.

 

[bearer]

The so-called “Plan B” pill is of course an abortifacient that, when used shortly after conception, effectively terminates a pregnancy. Aborting an unborn child is a violation of the Fifth Commandment and a grave sin.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

2271 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law:

You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.75

God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.76

75 Didache 2,2:ÆCh 248,148; cf. Ep. Bárnabae 19,5G 2 777; Ad D 5,6G 2,1173; Tertullian, Apol.¹9L 1,319-320.
76 GS 51 § 3.

In cases in which the victim has not been impregnated, there of course is no abortion, but use of the drug with intent to end a pregnancy is still a grave sin.

Rape is a terrible, terrible crime, and my heart goes out to the victims. However, the Church cannot justify killing a baby because of the crimes of another person.

In response to your question about administering the drug, it is scandalous and gravely sinful to help another person kill her baby.

 

[Elizium23]

However, the USCCB has issued directives that state it is acceptable for a woman who has been raped to defend herself from possible conception, and after medical tests have been performed to ensure that there was so far no fertilization of an egg, emergency contraception may be used to prevent it. If there is a chance of killing a fertilized egg with an abortifacient effect, then the treatment would not be acceptable.

 

[Canuck000]

Thanks, I guess this is what I needed to hear. I sort of already had it figured out, but still needed a confirmation. Each time an MD orders this drug to one of these women, I cringe knowing I have to administer it. My decision had already been made in my heart to resign from this part of my job. Now I need to put this in to action. I’m really not going to stop this from happening, but I certainly don’t need to be a part of it.

 

[manualman]

The moral part of this issue is pretty clear cut. It is the medical side that makes it hard to implement.

A victim of rape is not required to simply stand by and allow conception to occur. Contraception is a sin only when it is defined as a couple attempting to have the pleasure of sexual intimacy while actively trying to block the natural outcome of that activity (babies!). A rape victim simply doesn’t fall in this category.

IF (a big if) there are means by which a woman can kill sperm or prevent ovulation or inhibit the sperm’s mobility, but can reasonably be expected NOT to kill a child already fertilized, then there is no moral issue with that approach.

The question then becomes a medical one: Just how does Plan B work? Does it prevent fertilization or does it prevent implantation or does it kill the zygote? And how sure are we of claims of how it works? Those are sticky medical questions that are tough to answer.

I think I did hear that the bishops have opined that if there is a reliable means of determining that a victim has NOT ovulated yet, then she can receive this drug as a means of defending herself from the rapist (not the child, since there isn’t one yet). I’m just not so sure there is such a reliable method unless the victim happened to be an NFP user and knew she hadn’t ovulated yet.

As I understand it (I’m not in health care), the science is still pretty iffy on what effect Plan B has on a woman who has already ovulated when she takes it. Given that the hormones that make up Plan B are similar to those hormones that signal the uterus to go into ‘infertile’ mode, it is reasonable conclude unless proven otherwise that it would prevent implantation or perhaps even dislodge an already implanted baby from the uterine linings. In other words, abort. (yes, I’m aware that many doctors pretend that prevention of implantation isn’t an abortion, but I consider that semantics).

 

[Canuck000]

As a forensic nurse, we don’t ask where the woman is in their cycle. Sadly, the standard is, to offer it, as a preventative to pregnancy, although, I have to inform them that it may NOT be effective, depending on where they are in the cycle.

Therefore, I’m required to administer this medication per MD orders as part of my position with the forensics team. As much as I enjoy all the other aspects of this position, I feel personally, that I can no longer administer this medication to women. There are just too many unknowns with it. We do not administer tests to see where in the cycle they are, we simply offer it, and provide it if they want it. We also offer STD, HIV testing and prophylactic antibiotics as required. Plan B is just another part of the “care” we provide to these women.

It’s very clear that I’ll have to resign from this area of my job.

 

[Dan_Daly]

Contraception is a sin only when it is defined as a couple attempting to have the pleasure of sexual intimacy while actively trying to block the natural outcome of that activity (babies!).

What is the source of that claim?

Humanae Vitae condemns contraception “even when the reasons given for the later practice may appear to be upright and serious.”

Is a victim of rape permitted to defend herself against the attack? Yes, absolutely. However, just like anyone defending themselves against any other type of attack, that defense can only be by lawful means.

If contraception is evil, which the Church says that is, then how does attempting to contracept after a rape not violate the Church’s teaching that one may not do evil so that good may come from it?

Pax

 

[Viviphilia]

Abortion Qualms on Morning-After Pill May Be Unfounded
By PAM BELLUCK
Published: June 5, 2012

… Studies have not established that emergency contraceptive pills prevent fertilized eggs from implanting in the womb, leading scientists say. Rather, the pills delay ovulation, the release of eggs from ovaries that occurs before eggs are fertilized, and some pills also thicken cervical mucus so sperm have trouble swimming.

It turns out that the politically charged debate over morning-after pills and abortion, a divisive issue in this election year, is probably rooted in outdated or incorrect scientific guesses about how the pills work. …

Looks like Plan B is not an abortifacent after all. I wonder if this revelation will change anyone’s mind?

 

[Dan_Daly]

Of course it isn’t beyond the abortion industry to use skewed or forged studies to push their agenda.

 

[bearer]

Looks like Plan B is not an abortifacent after all. I wonder if this revelation will change anyone’s mind?

Interrupting, delaying, or halting a woman’s reproductive cycle to prevent natural pregnancy for its own sake is sinful no matter how you do it or what you call it.

 

[neophyte]

…It’s very clear that I’ll have to resign from this area of my job.

Agreed. God will reward you for your faithfulness. Welcome home.

BTW, I just got back from a week near Asheville. Western NC is one of my favorite places.

 

[Canuck000]

Agreed. God will reward you for your faithfulness. Welcome home.

BTW, I just got back from a week near Asheville. Western NC is one of my favorite places.

Thank you, and I am no longer a part of the forensics team, but I’m becoming a part of God’s team.