Senators argue inconclusively over when and where life begins

MANILA, Philippines—Fertilization or implantation?

The Senate’s first heated debate on the reproductive health bill Monday night stretched for more than two hours and centered on one question: Does life begin at fertilization when sperm and egg cell meet or during the implantation of the fertilized egg or zygote  in the mother’s womb?

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III recalled discussions by members of the 1986 Constitutional Commission that supposedly established the state’s cognizance of human life beginning at fertilization.

He said Fr. Joaquin Bernas made this point during the Con-Com debates.

“The majority decision (approving this provision) was 32-8.  There’s a lot of weight in what transpired at the Con-Com,” Sotto crowed.

But the bill’s sponsors, Senators Miriam Santiago and Pia Cayetano, noted that even medical experts are not in agreement over when life actually begins.

“Some say they know but the profession itself has no official position,” Santiago said.

“We are not bound by any specific statement, whether it begins at fertilization or implantation,” Cayetano retorted.

“I beg to disagree that doctors and scientists do not know.  The fertilized ovum has life.  Is it human? At the moment of conception, the 23 chromosomes carried by the sperm unite with the 23 of the egg cell. Only humans have 46 chromosomes and therefore it is human life,” Sotto countered.

“I am impressed by the amount of (your) research,” Santiago retorted.  “We can discuss ‘til kingdom come but that’s beside the point.”

Senator Ralph Recto stood up, saying it was imperative for the chamber to agree on the point where life starts. This detail, he said, would help the Senate determine which forms of contraception are legal or illegal.

In case senators agree that life begins at fertilization, Recto said, this would make condoms legal since they do not destroy the fertilized egg.

Church leaders already aired their position against condoms, noting that these contraptions prevent the sperm and egg from meeting and disrupt the natural fertilization process.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile gave his two cents.

“I remember in our college course on persons and family relations more than 50 years ago.  Life begins at conception. I don’t know whether this principle has been changed,” he said. “But the unborn child is already entitled to some rights… and we ought to explore the possibility when life begins, (whether) at fertilization or implantation.”

Sen. Joker Arroyo said the debates must clearly distinguish whether life begins at fertilization or implantation.

“So far it’s not clear,” he complained.

Cayetano, as RH bill co-sponsor, stressed her adherence to the principle that implantation “is the point of viability [because it is] when pregnancy is likely to occur.  Proper implantation is necessary because the fertilized cell would be naturally expelled from the womb if not.”

“The World Health Organization states that the fertilized egg by itself cannot survive without implantation,” she said.

“If you use the word ‘survive,’ that means the egg is already alive,” Sotto interjected.

“But the first component cannot graduate into a living person without implantation,” Cayetano replied.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson stepped in.

“If nobody would know if pregnancy takes place, should we not assume that there is life?” he asked.

At this point, Sotto reached out for more ammunition, recalling statements made by the sponsors themselves that 11 mothers die every day in the Philippines.

Santiago acknowledged that the detail came from a 2008 survey conducted by the National Statistics Office.

She said the “empirical basis of 11-12 deaths per day” was based on the 2005 estimate developed by the World Health Organization, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UN Family Planning Association and World Bank.

“There is no organized methodology in proving the deaths,” she warned.

“Were you aware that the survey was conducted by the (US Agency for International Development)?  The information by NSO was not the actual findings but (was done) with independent group? Did you know that USAID workers (collaborate) with contraceptive manufacturers?” Sotto asked.

Cayetano maintained that the data presented was based on studies of the Senate committee on health and demography that she chairs.

“We are prepared to submit the data we have [leading to this] conclusion that 11 women die each day on average,” Cayetano said.

“There may be days when there are (no maternal deaths),” Sotto surmised.

Cayetano dismissed this. She said that in East Avenue Hospital in Quezon City, for example, maternal morbidity figures showed there were 2,767 cases of pregnancy complications, 1,329 spontaneous abortions and 627 pregnancies “with aborted outcomes” in 2010.

“And this is already one of the hospitals that provide the best care. The (most frequent venue) of (childbirth) deaths is in the very homes where mothers deliver. The figures are probably much higher due to lack of data because many mothers do not have access (to health facilities) in many local government units,” Cayetano said.

“My feedback is that doctors are shocked at 11 mothers (dying) a day,” Sotto noted.

“I would love to meet those doctors,” Cayetano shot back.

The senator later clarified that the RH bill does not only focus on making artificial birth control methods more available.

“This bill is about reproductive health.  It covers all reproductive health issues of all women, whether we tackle the right of a woman to have a healthy pregnancy or specifically planning her pregnancy.  All this falls under (the realm of) reproductive health,” Cayetano said.