Tuesday August 24, 2010
Canadian Paediatric Society Enabling Child Rape Says Pro-Life Leader
By Patrick B. Craine
August 24, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) is urging doctors to counsel “preteens” and adolescents on the use of the abortifacient morning-after pill, while at the same time insisting that they keep the meeting completely confidential.
Alissa Golob, head of Campaign Life Coalition Youth, has responded by calling the society’s approach “a recipe for enabling child rapists to continue sexually assaulting young girls behind their parents’ backs.”
In a position statement released this month, the society advocates that health professionals spread awareness about the morning-after pill among teens as an “effective way” to reduce pregnancy rates. They “should routinely provide information and counselling about EC [emergency contraception] to adolescents regardless of sex or current method of contraception” the statement says, adding that the information should be given during routine visits to the doctor.
“Preteens and adolescent girls who have attained menarche [the first menstrual cycle] and have had consensual or nonconsensual unprotected sexual intercourse can be given EC,” it reads further.
At the same time, they assert that the drug should be administered confidentially. “EC must be accessible to adolescents in a way that respects their right to privacy, including their right to make responsible and informed decisions with respect to the prevention of an unintended pregnancy,” they state.
Dr. Minoli Amit, a paediatrician and society board member based in Antigonish, N.S., told CBC that medical practitioners should begin discussing the drug with girls as early as 12 years old.
“The average age for girls having their first period … is around 12, sometimes a less little, across this county, and so they’re at risk,” she said. “We do know there is a lot of sexual activity happening, so we believe that we do need to start educating young people early — not just girls; boys, as well.”
“We want to let young people know that it is available across this country, available over the counter through a pharmacist without a doctor’s prescription, and at not a bad cost,” she added.
The drug, also known as Plan B, purports to prevent pregnancy when taken within a few days of sexual intercourse by inhibiting or delaying ovulation. But if the woman has already ovulated and becomes pregnant, the drug works by preventing the newly conceived baby from attaching to the lining of the uterus, and thereby kills him or her.
The drug has also been linked to numerous dangerous side effects, such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and blood clot formation. While it is not intended for frequent or continuous use, the drug is often abused when easily available, as even “reproductive choice” proponents have admitted.
Golob said the society’s motives are “highly suspicious” and she suggested doctors would be “profiting off minors who are more than likely going to return because they have some kind of STD, pregnancy etc.”
“By feeding minors birth control the society is promoting the objectification of women. This explains the lack of parental consent,” she added. “It’s funny how parents are left out of this decision when, if by chance their daughter or son has an unexpected child to suddenly take care of, the parents are the ones left to clean up the mess.”