title: Plan B and the German Catholic bishops.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA. andersond@cedarville.edu
authors.forename: Douglas C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Dennis M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D002410:Catholicism; D003267:Contraception / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009014:Morals; D011247:Pregnancy; D011902:Rape / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D016912:Levonorgestrel