Plan B and the Doctrine of Double Effect (Essays‪)‬

Some opponents of abortion claim that emergency contraception, labels notwithstanding, is not merely contraceptive but also abortifacient in effect. Based on this, hey conclude two things. They conclude, first, that taking emergency contraception is morally equivalent to intentionally procuring an abortion, and thus impermissible. (1) And second, they claim that health care providers who sincerely object to abortion have a right to refuse to participate in the provision of such contraception. (2) Supporters of emergency contraception question both claims. Against the first, some argue that the medications in question cannot possibly have an abortifacient effect because they do not stop a pregnancy. (3) Against the second, some object that, while such "conscience clauses" are an understandable attempt to respect the rights of medical providers, they would do so at the cost of patients' rights to obtain necessary medical treatment. (4)