Spring Break
Letter to the editor
Joanna Harter
Issue date: 3/30/09 Section: Opinion
I would like to respond to Lauren Salz's Friday editorial, "Think twice before you decide to take Plan B, end a pregnancy." While I do commend her effort to inform people about the realities of what Plan B does, she makes some insensitive and illogical assumptions about abortion and Plan B.
First, she claims that since Plan B might prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus, this is equivalent to "destroying an embryo."
Making the uterus environment less-than-optimal is not the same as intentionally destroying an embryo. If it was, why aren't pro-life people making sure that every possible fertilized egg has the perfect uterus environment?
Second, she incorrectly claims "the consequences of taking Plan B are possibly as dire as the consequences of having an abortion."
Yes, Plan B may technically cause an abortion -- the termination of a pregnancy -- but this does not mean the consequences are just as "dire." Plan B and other abortion methods have differing physical and psychological implications for the woman, which should not be imprudently lumped together. Furthermore, what Plan B may do to a fertilized egg is drastically different than what other abortion methods do to a 2-month-old fetus.
Abortion, contraception and women's choice issues are complex and should be addressed as such.
Joanna Harter
Senior, natural resources recreation
and tourism
First, she claims that since Plan B might prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus, this is equivalent to "destroying an embryo."
Making the uterus environment less-than-optimal is not the same as intentionally destroying an embryo. If it was, why aren't pro-life people making sure that every possible fertilized egg has the perfect uterus environment?
Second, she incorrectly claims "the consequences of taking Plan B are possibly as dire as the consequences of having an abortion."
Yes, Plan B may technically cause an abortion -- the termination of a pregnancy -- but this does not mean the consequences are just as "dire." Plan B and other abortion methods have differing physical and psychological implications for the woman, which should not be imprudently lumped together. Furthermore, what Plan B may do to a fertilized egg is drastically different than what other abortion methods do to a 2-month-old fetus.
Abortion, contraception and women's choice issues are complex and should be addressed as such.
Joanna Harter
Senior, natural resources recreation
and tourism
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