a new practical compendium for OB/GYN house officers

[Guest guest]

Dear Group,

I need your help. I am trying to compile a practical, data-driven, evidence-based handbook especially for OB/GYN house officers. It would seek to provide solid, data-based and well-reasoned answers (not primarily faith-based though of course compatible with Catholic faith) to the most strenuous objections and challenges to our way of practicing medicine non-contraceptively. I am not here so much thinking of a specific pro-NFP apologetics (for example my focus is not specifically on the "pros" of NFP as simply an alternative while leaving aside the defects of contraceptive medicine). I am attempting a reasoned and evidence-based defense of non-contraceptive practice in all types of strenuously challenging situations which confront the Catholic (or good-willed non-contraceptive non-Catholilc) OB/GYN house officer routinely.

A couple of things right off the bat that I would ask you, are first, would it be possible to compile a brief list of the most challenging objections and questions you have ever encountered when suggesting the avoidance of contraception or sterilization and the adoption of the morally acceptable alternative. Here I'm thinking of the "worst-case" as well as common clinical scenarios which for Catholic positions might represent a rather strenuous challenge. The objection might be:

1) specific situations challenging our position as allegedly faith-based rather than scientific, or it might be at the purely pragmatic or practical level, as for example

2)the 14-year-old girl on her fourth pregnancy, and how can anybody in their right mind argue that she shouldn't get depo shots?

3) a 14-year-old girl still sexually active after two prior abortions, with "unreliable barrier contraceptive use", arguing for either hormonal or injectable contraceptive.

4) the 40 year old woman with "parchment paper" uterus after several C-sections, who also had peripartum cardiomyopathy after the last pregnancy and barely recovered from congestive heart failure, now arguing for tubal ligation, and you as the Catholic position are the only one on service providing any objection or alternative.

5) the 26 year old married woman with prior anaphylaxis to her husband's semen, for whom the clinical service and or attending is recommending "routine/religious" condom use. Can any data be adduced to support our (contrary) position?

Can you look at these theoretical objections and challenges and see if they make any sense? Also please add encounters you have had or objections to our way of practicing which you have seen and considered challenging. This would be a great help to me, as I envision, hope, and pray that this would be a helpful practical, eminently evidence-based guide that would empower our physicians in training and encourage as well more dialogue with our not-like-minded-colleagues. Please let me know when you can, and I deeply appreciate your help as well as wanting to be a help to you personally as well.

Sincerely yours,

Dominic M. Pedulla MD, FACC, CNFPMC, ABVM, ACPh

Varicoseveins1@...

Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, OU Health Sciences Center

Medical Director, The Oklahoma Vein and Endovascular Center

President, The Edith Stein Foundation

Sincerely yours,

Dominic M. Pedulla MD, FACC, CNFPMC, ABVM, ACPh

Varicoseveins1@...

Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, OU Health Sciences Center

Medical Director, The Oklahoma Vein and Endovascular Center

President, The Edith Stein Foundation

Ovulation Method Teacher Training in Dayton OH, 28-31 March 2008.

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Blessings to all, and thanks for your help.

Steve Koob

Director

One More Soul

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