TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - Levonorgestrel in cases of rape: How does it work?
JO  - Linacre quarterly
A1  - Raviele, Kathleen Mary
SP  - 117
EP  - 129
VL  - 81
IS  - 2
N2  - The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services allows the use of an emergency contraceptive for a woman who has been raped, as a defense against her attacker's sperm, provided the drug prevents fertilization and does not act against a conceived human life. Catholic emergency rooms around the country have been pressured to provide Plan B (LNG-EC) to patients seeking help after a sexual assault. Catholic bioethicists have supported the use of this drug based on their interpretation of the scientific literature regarding its mechanism of action. This paper presents a review of the mechanisms of action of LNG-EC when given during the fertile window, showing a high probability that it acts against human life rather than preventing fertilization, and proposes another class of drugs as a possible alternative.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0024-3639
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/2050854914Y.0000000017
ID  - ref1
ER  -