WHY WE SAY NO TO THE

RH BILL

From the Medical Viewpoint

(updated version)

Melissa Poblete, DMD, MHPEd

 Why do we say no to the RH bill?
1)We are against all forms of contraception
that kill a conceived life!
The RH bill will make sure all forms of
contraceptive products, devices and
medicines, are included with purchase of
ESSENTIAL MEDICINES in LGUs
Through mandatory sex education, it will
teach our young people about these
contraceptives.
 When does life begin?
Medical science tells us when a new life begins
– (Embryology)
Advances in technology enable us to see or
witness fetal development like never before
– 3-D and 4-D Ultrasound, Intra-uterine
Photography, fetal monitors, fetal doppler
 When does life begin?
AT CONCEPTION
Which is also called FERTILIZATION
From A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia
 Science Lesson!
Prior to fertilization:
You have haploid cells (the sperm and the
egg)
Haploid=containing half (23) of the number
of chromosomes in other cells of the body
(46)
only for reproductive cells (gametes)
At fertilization:
Haploid gametes combine together to form
a diploid zygote, a genetically different
individual from the mother and father
The zygote now has 46
chromosomes(that’s a new life!)
All the cells in his or her body will have 46
chromosomes except his or her future
gametes (sperm cells or eggs)
What Medical Textbooks Say
“Each human being starts his life, his
very being, as an ordinary cell called
the zygote, measuring less than 0.2
mm in diameter.”
Essentials of Human Embryology, S.M.
Bhatnagar et. al., 1983, Orient
Longman, India
What Medical Textbooks Say
“The male and female sex cells or gametes…unite at
fertilization to initiate the embryonic development of a new
individual.”
“Fertilization takes place in the oviduct (fallopian tubes)...
resulting in the formation of a zygote containing a single
diploid nucleus.”
“Embryonic development is considered to begin at this point.”
“This moment of zygote formation may be taken as the
beginning or zero time point of embryonic development."

Essentials of Human Embryology (pp. 1-17)

Larsen, W.J. 1998.
Churchill Livingstone, New York.
What Medical Textbooks Say
"Zygote: this cell results from the union of an
oocyte(egg) and a sperm. A zygote is the beginning
of a new human being (i.e., an embryo).
Human development begins at fertilization, the
process during which a male gamete or sperm ...
unites with a female gamete or oocyte(egg) ... to
form a single cell called a zygote. This highly
specialized, totipotent(multi-potential) cell marks the
beginning of each of us as a unique individual.

The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented

Embryology by Moore, K. and T.V.N. Persaud.
1998. (6th ed.), W.B. Saunders Company,
Philadelphia. (pp 2-18)
 Development of the Baby
There are different terms for the new baby.
But these are just terms describing the
stage of development :
zygote, morula, blastocyst, embryo, fetus
But it is the very same baby!
And when the baby is born he or she is
called a neonate, infant, toddler, etc.
He or she is still the very same baby!
What Medical Textbooks Say
How does the cell (zygote) develop?
“Through a chronicle of development, characterized
by the gradual and sequential development of a
wide variety of structures, nowhere present to start
with, by cellular processes of multiplication,
migration, differentiation, and assembly of diverse
cell types, leading to the formation of organs and
systems.”
Essentials of Human Embryology, S.M. Bhatnagar et.
al., 1983, Orient Longman, India
Your existence started at the point of conception
Fetal Development is part of the continuous
timeline of your growth as a human being
Therefore, any contraceptive that works after
fertilization or conception kills a human being or
is called an abortifacient (causes abortion, even
though an early one)
If something stopped you from implanting in your
mother’s womb, YOU WOULD NOT BE HERE!
 What the Medical
Professionals Say
The critical event that assigns humanness
is conception. All subsequent changes are
those of increased size and complexity,
not an alteration of the essential nature of
the fetus.
Dr. D. Brady-West, DM
Medical Practitioner, Jamaica
What Medical Textbooks Say
Embryology is the study of the prenatal period of
creation of an individual starting from conception to
the birth of a child.
Growth in the prenatal and postnatal periods is a
continuous process. The event of birth marks the
difference between the two periods and entails
sudden and drastic changes in respiration and
circulation.
Obstetrics is essentially applied embryology. The
problems of normal and abnormal labor, antenatal
and postnatal care can be readily tackled with an
understanding of embryology.

Essentials of Human Embryology, S.M. Bhatnagar et.

al., 1983, Orient Longman, India
Which contraceptives can stop a
fertilized egg from implanting?
Intrauterine device (IUD)- has both pre-
fertilization and post-fertilization effect
Oral contraceptive pills and injectables (as a
third effect)
– First effect: stops ovulation (not all of the time)
– Second effect : prevents sperm from migrating to the
fallopian tube
– Third effect: prevents implantation of fertilized egg
(when breakthrough ovulation occurs, as prevention
of ovulation is not 100% foolproof)
Emergency contraceptives- prevent implantation
; rejection of an implanted embryo
IUD –mechanism of action-there is
a post-fertilization effect
There are many potential mechanisms of action for the intrauterine
device (IUD), which vary by type of IUD (inert, copper, or hormonal).
On the basis of available data for fertilization rates and clinical
pregnancy rates, the relative contribution of mechanisms acting
before or after fertilization were quantitatively estimated. These
estimates indicate that, although prefertilization effects are more
prominent for the copper IUD, both prefertilization and
postfertilization mechanisms of action contribute significantly
to the effectiveness of all types of intrauterine devices.

Mechanisms of action of intrauterine devices: update and

estimation of postfertilization effects.
Am J Obstet Gynecol.  2002; 187(6):1699-708
Stanford JB; Mikolajczyk RT
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah
Health Research Center, Salt Lake City 84108, USA.
Plus: Hormonal contraceptives are
not safe for women!
They increase the risk for venous
thrombosis (blood clotting in the veins)
They increase the relative risk of
developing breast cancer, according to
cancer research journals (not the
reproductive health journals)- because
breast cells are affected by synthetic
hormones
 Netherlands: 1524 OC users vs
1760 non-users
Currently available oral contraceptives
increased the risk of venous thrombosis
fivefold compared with non-use

The venous thrombotic risk of oral contraceptives,

effects of oestrogen dose and progestogen type:
results of the MEGA case-control study
British Medical Journal. 
2009 Aug 13;339:b2921
 US study of 116,608 women
from 1989 to 2001
Current use of oral contraceptives carries an excess
risk of breast cancer. Levonorgestrel used in
triphasic preparations may account for much of this
elevation in risk.

Oral contraceptive use and breast cancer: a prospective

study of young women.
Hunter, DJ et al
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Journal ; 2010 Oct;19(10):2496-502. Epub 2010 Aug 27.
(American Association for Cancer Research)
 Synthetic progestins increase risk
of developing breast cancer
There is now considerable evidence that using a
combination of synthetic progestins and estrogens in
hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases the
risk of breast cancer compared with estrogen alone.
Furthermore, the World Health Organization has
recently cited combination contraceptives, which
contain synthetic progestins, as potentially
carcinogenic to humans, particularly for increased
breast cancer risk.

Disruption of androgen receptor signaling by synthetic

progestins may increase risk of developing breast
cancer.
FASEB(Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology)
Journal. 2007 Aug;21(10):2285-93. Epub 2007 Apr 5.Birrell SN, et
al .Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, The
University of Adelaide, Hanson Institute, PO Box 14, Rundle Mall,
South Australia, 5000, Australia.
Continued:
Disruption of androgen action by synthetic progestins
may have serious deleterious side effects in the
breast, where the balance between estrogen
signaling and androgen signaling plays a critical role
in breast homeostasis. Here, we review the role of
androgen signaling in the normal breast and in breast
cancer and present new data demonstrating that
androgen receptor function can be perturbed by low
doses of MPA(medroxyprogesterone acetate), similar to
doses achieved in serum of women taking HRT. We
propose that the observed excess of breast
malignancies associated with combined HRT may be
explained, in part, by synthetic progestins such as
MPA acting as endocrine disruptors to negate the
protective effects of androgen signaling in the
breast. 
Philippine data-UP Manila study

Women who are currently on combined oral contraceptives or who

have used them in the last 10 years are at a slightly increased risk
of having breast cancer diagnosed and additional cancers
diagnosed tend to be localized to the breast. There is no evidence
of an increased risk 10 or more years after stopping use
Post-menopausal women are at an increased risk of having breast
cancer diagnosed while on hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
and in the 5 years after stopping use, relative risk was increased by
2.7% for each year of use. There is no evidence of an increased
risk of breast cancer 5 or more years after stopping HRT

Cancer and the Philippine Cancer Control Program

Ngelangel,CA and Wang, EHM
Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology (2002) 32(suppl 1): S52-
S61.doi: 10.1093/jjco/hye126
 On the Philippine Breast Cancer Network: "Some of the
causes of breast cancer ... can only be controlled by
political and social action aimed at reducing the
production, use, transport and disposal of agents that
directly or indirectly affect breast cancer risks."-
Environmental Health Perspectives, September 1998

Following this recommendation above, logically, the

government “must reduce the production, use, transport
and disposal of hormonal contraceptives.”-because
hormonal contraceptives directly increase breast cancer
risk.

Yet the RH bill will include these breast-cancer-risk-

increasing hormonal contraceptives together with the
purchase of essential medicines (Section 10) for all
national and local hospitals!
 Also,IUDs can cause puncturing of
body parts and life-threatening
bacterial infections

IUD in large intestine

 from Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
2010 Jul-Sep
 IUD in bladder

Canadian Urology Association Journal  2010 Oct;4(5):E141-3.

Intravesical migration of an intrauterine device detected in
a pregnant woman.
Tosun M, Celik H, Yavuz E, Cetinkaya MB.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ondokuz Mayis,
Samsun, Turkey.
 IUD: Penetration into the
descending colon (large intestine)
Case: a patient visited our hospital and complained of a
vague lower abdominal pain that had been present for
three months. She had an intrauterine device (IUD)
inserted five years earlier. The abdominal X-ray,
computed tomography and colonoscopy revealed that
the IUD had penetrated into the descending colon. We
tried to remove the IUD by colonoscopy but failed due
to pain, so we removed the IUD surgically. 

Penetration of the descending colon by a migrating

intrauterine contraceptive device.
J Korean Soc Coloproctology. 2010 Dec;26(6):433-6. Epub
2010 Dec 31.Park JM, et al.
Department of Internal Medicine, Good Gang-An Hospital,
Busan, Korea.
 IUD: Ovarian abscess from
actinomycosis
Case: a 35-year-old female with an intrauterine device
(IUD) who appeared in the emergency department
with clinical characteristics of appendicitis.
Ultrasound and computed tomography were
performed, revealing an ovarian tumor formation and
acute appendicitis. The patient underwent
exploratory laparotomy, unilateral ovarectomy due to
acute abscess and finally appendectomy.  The role of
IUD as a factor in the dissemination of the infection is
very important.

Actinomycosis of the appendix and pelvis: a case

report. J Reprod Med.  2008; 53(9):711-3 
 Peitsidis P et al
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra
General Hospital, Athens, Greece. 
IUD: Pseudomonas: abscesses of
ovary and fallopian tube and pelvis
Case: a 35-year-old woman with an IUD for 6 years
with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) . Authors
implemented antibiotic therapy. Her clinical course
worsened, and exploratory surgery revealed a right
tubo-ovarian abscess with multiple loculated pelvic
abscesses. Culture of the IUD found heavy growth of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected IUD associated with

pelvic inflammatory disease. A case report.
J Reprod Med.  2002; 47(12):1035-7  
King JA; Olsen TG; Lim R; Nycum LR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Grant
Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, CA 94535, USA
 Pelvic actinomycosis from IUD
->death
 Case: 49-year-old woman who had been using an intrauterine
contraceptive device for 20 years. The pelvic actinomycosis in
her case led to sepsis and consequently to her death.
Colonisation with Actinomyces israeli in women using IUD may
amount up to even 20%. 

[Pelvic actynomycosis as the result of a long standing use of an

intrauterine device. Case report]
Ginekol Pol.  2007; 78(12):995-7
 
Grabiec M; et al
Katedra i Klinika Ginekologii Onkologicznej i Pielegniarstwa
Ginekologicznego, Uniwersytetu Mikoaja Kopernika w Toruniu,
Collegium Medicum im. Ludwika Rydygiera w Bydgoszczy.
Are these “medically safe” devices?
NO!
Section 2: The RH Bill says that the State shall
guarantee “universal access to medically safe,
legal, affordable, effective, quality RH care
services, methods, devices, supplies”.
They are also not legal since our 1987 Constitution
states in Article 2, Sec 12:
Section 12. The State recognizes the sanctity of
family life and shall protect and strengthen the
family as a basic autonomous social institution. It
shall equally protect the life of the mother and
the life of the unborn from conception.
Remember: IUDs have a post-fertilization effect!
Let’s take a look at fetal
development!
Intrauterine Photographs

4-week old baby in the womb

Intrauterine Photographs

6-week old baby in the womb

Intrauterine Photographs

8-week old baby in the womb

Intrauterine Photographs

Feet of 11-week old baby in

the womb
Intrauterine Photographs

20-week old baby in the womb

Intrauterine Photographs

22-week old baby in the womb

Intrauterine Photographs

24-week old baby in the womb

Ordinary Ultrasound
3-D Ultrasound
4-D Ultrasound
 Why we say no to the RH bill
2. Because it condones abortion
The RH bill includes “management of post-
abortion complications” in its guiding principles
(10th principle) and lists management of abortion
complications as the 3rd element of reproductive
health.This is mentioned many times in the RH
bill. In the RH bill, “management of post-abortion
complications” is considered a reproductive
right.
The RH bill includes “hazards of abortion”
in RH education(Section 16, 10th topic).
Abortion is hazardous to women, yes,
BUT:
Remember: abortion is 100% hazardous
to a baby!
There is no such thing as a “safe
abortion”!
We cannot let abortion be condoned by a
law!
In national crisis situations (devastations, calamities)
while people are already suffering, the RH bill still wants
“management of post-abortion complications”. It groups
“management of post abortion complications”,which
totally disregards the aborted baby’s life,with necessary
health care services like normal and complicated
deliveries, pregnancy complications and miscarriage.
(Section 8: Maternal and Newborn Health Care in Crisis
Situations)
Why are “post-abortion complications” bundled together
with necessary maternal health care in crisis situations?
Abortion is illegal. Management of post-abortion
complications disregards the aborted babies’ lives.
All patients who have committed a crime,
whether they are men or women, deserve
compassionate and humane treatment
when they have medical emergencies or
complications stemming from the crime
they committed.
But the victim of the crime (the unborn
baby) must never be forgotten!
The complication of abortion in an unborn baby is DEATH!
More than condoning: in Sec.2 in its Declaration
of Policy the RH bill states: “The State shall
eradicate discriminatory practices, laws and
policies that infringe on a person’s exercise of
reproductive rights.”
In countries where abortion is legal, abortion IS
part of “reproductive rights”
“Eradicate laws”? – this paves the way for
legalization or decriminalization of abortion even
if the Bill states that abortion remains illegal
 How is abortion done?
Babies die through abortion by:
Chemical abortion- taking /placing
“pampalaglag”; taking chemotherapy drugs;
contraceptive pills and emergency
contraceptives that prevent implantation;
emergency contraceptives that cause the
implanted embryo to die
Surgical abortion- by doctors with no conscience
Trauma to the womb/baby- by “hilot”
 Why is Abortion Wrong?
Because it is a sin against God

Because it is murder in God’s eyes

– Killing another human life shows contempt for
God, who created that life
– The 6th Commandment: “You shall not
murder” (Exodus 20:13)
– Abortion takes away another human life that is
made in the image of God
– Abortion is the ultimate power grab- to choose
between life and death.
 Why Is Abortion Wrong?
Because it is the shedding of innocent blood and
God hates the shedding of innocent blood
– Prov 6:16-19 There are six things the LORD
hates, seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed
innocent blood…
 Why is Abortion Wrong?
Because it is ethically wrong
Ethics- a set of moral principles adopted by a
profession or a society; defines right or wrong
It is immoral to kill, that’s why it’s a crime to
murder or kill another human being after he is
born, from birth to natural death.
In the same way, it is immoral to kill another
human being before he or she is born, when he
or she is still in the womb.
It is immoral to choose who may live and who
may not.
Ex. Holocaust- Nazis chose death for the Jews
 What the Medical
Professionals Say
If the fetus is a human being, then the
killing of the fetus (abortion) is homicide.
Dr. D. Brady-West, DM
Medical Practitioner, Jamaica
 Why is abortion wrong?
Because our Constitution upholds life
In the Philippines, the State protects the
life of its citizens from conception
– The State shall equally protect the life of
the mother and the life of the unborn
from conception. (Article II, Sec. 12 of the
1987 Constitution)
 Why is abortion wrong?
Because in the Philippines, abortion is a crime
The Revised Penal Code punishes abortion as a
crime with fines and imprisonment both for the
woman and the health professional who
committed the crime of abortion
– Revised Penal Code, Book Two,Title Eight-
CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS, Chapter One-
DESTRUCTION OF LIFE, Section Two- Infanticide
and abortion. Article 255-259
 Why is abortion wrong?
Because abortion kills babies and hurts women
Post-abortion syndrome= post-traumatic stress disorder:
guilt-->major depression, anger, nightmares,
hallucinations
Why is there guilt? Because a life was killed.
Why don’t we feel guilt when we have a mole, a
gallbladder or an appendix removed? Because they are
part of our bodies. But a baby is a different life from ours.
Chemical and surgical abortion cause many
complications in women: uterine perforation, life-
threatening bleeding, infertility, septicemia or life-
threatening infection of the blood
There is no such thing as a “safe abortion” because
abortion is 100% fatal to babies.
Abortion tears apart bodies of children!
Abortion is never an act of compassion.
 Abortion promises power …
brings powerlessness.
Abortion promises freedom …
brings lifelong bondage.
Abortion promises a better role for women … brings
destruction.
Abortion promises to save relationships … destroys
them instead.
Abortion promises "reproductive health" … brings
infertility and death.
From a speech by Dr. Janice Crouse
At the January Life Breakfast, Jan.22, 2008
Illinois, USA
 How do we uphold the sanctity of
life?
As human beings created by God
We must oppose abortion, because we
are all former fetuses.
 How do we uphold the sanctity of
life?
As Christians who love and follow Christ
PRAY
– for women and their babies
– abortion will stop
– that God would expose those who commit the crime
of abortion
Speak up for the defenseless (Proverbs 31:8)
Rescue the dying who are being dragged to their
deaths (Proverbs 24:11)
 How do we uphold the sanctity of
life?
As health professionals
We must not view pregnancy as a disease or
epidemic.
We must always consider the fetus as a patient.
We must never consider abortion as a part of
health care. Abortion takes away a human life
and therefore can never be an act of caring. It
must not be part of health care.
We must never recommend the use of
abortifacient drugs (drugs that cause abortion).
We must never recommend an abortion.
 How do we uphold the sanctity of
life?
As a Filipino:
Actively support pro-life laws
Speak up against abortion in our country
Actively resist the legalization of abortion or the
decriminalization of abortion
Actively resist charter change that will seek to strike out
protection of the unborn from conception
Actively resist the use of abortifacient or abortion-
causing methods of artificial contraception
Consider our large population a blessing
Prevent the development of collective blindness of our
society to the humanity of the unborn and to the evil of
abortion .This blindness is pervasive in most Western
societies.
 How do we uphold the sanctity of
life?
As a young person
Teach your generation about the sanctity
of human life
Rescue the unborn generation
Teach the next generation about the
sanctity of human life
 Conclusions
We say no to the RH bill! But not because we are anti-
health or anti-women. We want women and children to
be healthy, but not through the RH bill with all its
oppressive and immoral provisions.
We reject the RH bill because we believe life begins at
conception. The RH bill will promote and uphold
abortifacient contraceptives, contraceptives that are also
harmful to women.
We reject the RH bill because of its utter disregard for
the life of the aborted baby through the oft-repeated
phrase “management of post-abortion complications”.
 Conclusions:
We uphold the sanctity of life,
Because we fear God.
Because we are made in God’s image.
Because we love our country.
Because we love women and children.
Because we value health of the born and
the unborn.
proliferesources.com