Conference turris::womannotes-v1

    I am glad that women may have the opportunity for a quick and
    relatively easy abortion in the future.
    
    I have a terrible thought about it, though.  I can only hope that
    obtaining this pill is not easy, for I would hate to be the object
    of a deranged man or woman who drops the pill in my drink while
    I am pregnant.  Is my fear unfounded that this might happen to someone?
        
              Carol

    
    That is scary, Carol, and I didn't even think about it!  This doesn't
    sound like the type of stuff that would be available over the counter
    though.
    
    I also hope people will not use it as a solution;  meaning forget
    about preventing a pregnancy in the first place, just abort it if
    it happens.  Even if the effects are similar to a spontaneous
    miscarriage, it doesn't seem like too many of them would be good
    for you (possibly even lessen the chances of having a baby in
    the future?)  However, it does sound better than the abortions of
    today.
    
    

    
>	Even if the effects are similar to a spontaneous
>    miscarriage, it doesn't seem like too many of them would be good
>    for you (possibly even lessen the chances of having a baby in
>    the future?)  

	By saying that the effects are similar to a spontaneous abortion,
	they tend to minimize the danger involved.   Spontaneous abortions
	are not always like just having your menses.  They can cause
	hemorhaging, and can be fatal. 

	I whole-heartedly agree with you that this cannot replace birth
	control.  I also think that using this pill under a doctor's care
	can be a lot safer than surgery.

	...Karen

    I'm confused...
    
    About three years ago there was a lot of publicity in european scientific
    circles to clinical tests on a "morning after pill" in France. This was a 
    tablet that could be taken up to 48 hours after intercourse to prevent the
    fertilised ovum from implanting itself in the womb. In effect this aborted
    the pregnancy before it really started.
    
    Is the French drug what we are talking about here the morning after pill 
    now released from the early clinical trials? or is it something different? 
    
    If the former I presume they discovered it to be efficacious (with
    occasional hormone assistance) in chemically inducing abortion of 
    an implanted f�tus?
    
    In view of the hype about the early announcement of the "MA" pill I
    would have some moral concern (they were talking about it "completely
    removing the worry of pregnancy" - you "don't need to worry about
    forgetting to take the pill" or carrying other protectives, "if you
    have sex unexpectedly, just take the MA pill the following morning and
    you'll be alright")
    
    Incidentally one potential use I do approve of: it was pointed out that
    it would be useful to rape victims, who of course may very well not
    have been taking contraceptive precautions.
    
    /. Ian .\
    
    (The quoted remarks are not of course direct quotes, but they are the
    type of sentiments being expressed at the time).
    
    

    re .1
>    I have a terrible thought about it, though.  I can only hope that
>    obtaining this pill is not easy, for I would hate to be the object
>    of a deranged man or woman who drops the pill in my drink while
>    I am pregnant.  Is my fear unfounded that this might happen to someone?
    
    This fear is about as unfounded as the fear of finding cyanide in
    your Tylenol capsule.  Given a chance, the crazies out there will
    find something to do.
    
    My biggest concern would be what would happen if the woman used
    the pill after, say, 6 months.  It *will* happen.  Believe it. 
    I once knew a woman who used tampons.  She didn't know you had to
    take them out, so she just kept stuffing them in until she went
    to the hospital for severe abdominal cramps.  I never found out
    where she thought they all went.
    
    A friend of mine ate deep fried shrimp, tails and all, because he
    didn't know the tails came off.  Likewise, pinon nuts.  Shell and
    all.  He commented on how much better they felt to his throat without
    the shells.  I sometimes wonder how much better the *other* end
    felt. 
    
    And, for a little humor, a joke.
    A woman, not wanting to get PG, asked her two lovers to wear condoms.
    After 6 months, one brother turned to the other and said, "I don't
    care if she gets PG or not, I'm taking off this damned rubber."
                                    
    Invent anything and give explicit instructions and someone will
    find a way to abuse it.
    
    spence

    I don't believe that .1 was saying that she was concerned about
    them being substituted for asprin in the grocery store with by a
    Tylenol-murder-type crazy, but rather someone she thinks she knows
    who for whatever reason doesn't think she should be pregnant (possibly
    with a 'for her own good' reasoning) or doing it as a joke.  I have
    known several women who were in a high risk group for pregnancy,
    or knew they were going to have a defective baby, but their morals
    dictated that they continue the pregnancy.  I have seen some of
    these women put up with a lot of well-meaning friends, family, and
    acquaintances telling them that they should abort.  I can hypothesize
    that one of this type of people might try to take things into their
    own hands - taking the choice away from the woman involved.  Another
    possibly scary situation is if the husband/lover does not want her
    to have the baby, and she does (after having got pregnant
    accidentally), he could slip her one of these pills, and once again,
    remove the woman's choice in the matter.
    
    I also agree that these should be carefully regulated so that they
    only get into the hands of the people who want to use them.
    
    Elizabeth
    

    Actually, Elizabeth, I had not thought of that, but I do believe
    some SO's would be so devious as to do such a thing.  In general,
    I just don't like someone having that kind of nasty power over my
    life and health.
    
    When I was in high school, my mother was made Assistant Principal.
    She was tough, but fair, but the previous AP had been very ill and
    had not disciplined, so my mother's style was quite a shock to the
    trouble students.  It took them a year to get used to her (and love
    her), and in the meantime they did everything possible to make *my* 
    life miserable.  They punched me and tried to get me alone so that 
    they could beat me up (10 to 1 odds).  It was discovered that there 
    was a plot to put LSD in my coke at lunch.  I was very careful for
    several weeks after this that I should never let my food out of
    my sight, even for an instant.
    
    The thought that some terrible person could purposely make me lose
    a baby in such a simple way is a frightening one, and though I am
    in favor of safe and healthy abortions (by choice) I do not like
    the idea that someone could make that choice for you.

                   Carol

I gotta believe that if, and when, this pill becomes a reality it will
be hard to come by. Meaning it will only be given to a positively pregnant
woman and probably taken under supervision. I find it hard to believe that
it will become an over-the-counter drug and easily had by anyone who wants
it. But then again, stranger things have happened.

Bahama Mama