The debate on whether to introduce the morning-after pill is still ongoing. The camp in favour is hell bent on nitpicking and shredding to pieces the data available on conception.

On the other hand, the camp against is basing its arguments on the notion that any minimal doubt as to whether the pill is abortifacient is enough for it not to be introduced.

Those in favour say valuable life begins at implantation as suggested in certain scientific circles whereas the opposing camp believe life begins at conception or fertilisation, which is also a widely accepted scientific view.

From a layperson’s point of view, with no scientific background or with a very basic one at best, it is a matter of logic that unless there is something live there is nothing to be implanted. So implantation is only a stage of development and not the beginning of life. This occurs much before, at fertilisation, which then moves on to the next stage of development.

Are we going to prioritise one stage of development over another? Are not all the stages of development equally important leading to the birth of the child?

I hope there isn’t a hidden agenda pushing for the introduction of this pill. That would be a great disservice to all child-bearing women who look to knowledgeable professionals for guidance.

It is most unfortunate that the initiative for the introduction of this pill in Malta has come from a group of women, from all walks of life, who say they are doing this to uphold women’s reproductive rights. But women, being carriers of life, should defend it, not manipulate their God-given gift for some misguided idea of their reproductive rights.

Finally and most importantly: Who is going to defend the rights of the unborn child? The silence is almost deafening.

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