The commission last Thursday published information stating that the levonorgestrel contained in the morning-after pill, which in Chile is sold under the name Postinor 2, affects the implantation of the embryo and thus attacks human life.
Dr. Patricio Ventura-Junca, a member of the commission, explained that “the scientific literature published to date acknowledges three possible mechanisms of action of the morning-after pill: inhibition of ovulation, inhibition of fertilization, or impediment of implantation, which constitutes an abortifacient effect.”
“To date, there is no research that concludes that the abortifacient effect is discarded,” says a statement issued by the Chilean episcopate.
Debate over the morning-after pill has been sparked by the government’s decision to provide the drug, free of charge, to rape victims.
In 2001, the Chilean Supreme Court rejected attempts to introduce Postinal pills because of their abortifacient effects. The government evaded the court’s ruling by using Postinor 2.
