Dr. Condrado Ll. Lorenzo, Jr., from Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Makati Medical Center, published an article “Why is House Bill No. 96 Pro Abortion?” (Impact, no. 10, October 2010, p. 14).
HB 96 was introduced by Rep. Edcel Lagman, 1st Regular Session, 15th Congress, July 1, 2010.
Sec. 3 (c): “The State shall promote, without bias, all modern natural and artificial methods of family planning that are medically safe, legal and effective.”
Dr. Lorenzo’s comment: “In effect, this provision mandates the states to promote intra-uterine device (IUD) which causes medical abortion.”
He explains: “The IUD is a plastic device (usually a coil) that is inserted into the uterine cavity and left there for as long as the woman wants to contracept.”
Continues Dr. Lorenzo: “being a foreign body, it triggers a ‘foreign body reaction’ in the inner lining (endometrium) of the uterus. The foreign body reaction renders the endometrium hostile to a fertilized egg. So when the fertilized egg attempts to implant itself in the endometrium, it is rejected and dies. Many authors call this mechanism medical abortion.”
He furthers argues: “This sec. 3 (c) promotes also the use of different kinds of ‘morning after’ pills such as RH 486, which is marketed in the U.S. as Mifiprex, Plan B, Optimor…”
“Mifiprex”, he clarifies, “uses a combination of two medications, namely, mifepristone and miso prostol. Mifepristone is usually given in the clinic. It blocks progesterone, a hormone which is needed to maintain pregnancy, causing the endometrium to slough off. Bleeding occurs and the cervix softens…”
“Then, 24 to 72 hours after the first medication”, Dr. Lorenzo states, “misoprostol is given which causes the uterus to contract. The pregnancy is usually expelled within 6 to 8 hours. When these two drugs are used in combination, they are 95-97% effective.
“Clearly, Dr. Lorenzo concludes, ‘HB 96 not only subverts the moral fibre of Filipinos by promoting medical abortion. It also goes against the Constitution of the Philippines which states [The State] shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception’” (Sec. 12, Art. II).
House Bill No. 96 is immoral as well as unconstitutional.
