Plan B and the German Catholic Bishops

Authors

Douglas C. Anderson, Cedarville UniversityFollow
Dennis M. Sullivan, Cedarville UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2013

Journal Title

Annals of Pharmacotherapy

ISSN

1542-6270

Volume

47

Issue

7-8

First Page

1079

Last Page

1080

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1345/aph.1s157

PubMed ID

23737514

Abstract

Germany’s Catholic bishops recently ruled that levonorgestrel emergency contraception (EC) was acceptable for prevention of pregnancy in the case of rape. The ruling represents a significant change in Catholic doctrine that has been opposed to most forms of birth control. In their ruling the bishops cited a lack of evidence that levonorgestrel EC acts as an abortifacient. This case serves as a reminder of the need for bioethics to be based on current scientific literature as well as articles of faith and morals.

Keywords

Emergency contraception, pregnancy, rape, Catholicism, contraception, postcoital, contraceptive agents, female, Germany, levonorgestrel, morals

Recommended Citation

Anderson, Douglas C. and Sullivan, Dennis M., "Plan B and the German Catholic Bishops" (2013). Pharmacy Practice Faculty Publications. 149.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/pharmacy_practice_publications/149