Missouri Right to Life acknowledges the scientific reality that for humans produced by fertilization, the life of a human being begins at conception.¹ Therefore, all drugs or devices that are intended to prevent implantation after conception occurs, or in any other way destroy human life, cause abortions. They are abortifacients. Some drugs, such as the so-called “morning after” pills (“Plan B”) do not act as abortifacients in every instance. Plan B in some instances prevents conception. If conception occurs despite taking Plan B, however, Plan B prevents implantation, and as a result, the new human being cannot obtain nutrition and dies. Because of this feature of Plan B, one never knows when it will act as an abortifacient. Anything that may act as an abortifacient at any time is wrong to use. Just like Russian roulette, it may kill at any time. Therefore, Missouri Right to Life opposes “Plan B” and any other drugs that may act like it.

The abortifacient known as mifepristone (brand name, “Mifeprex,” formerly known as “RU486”), is never taken as a “morning after” contraceptive pill, but is used several days after conception purely and simply as an abortifacient. It always acts, and is intended to act, by killing the child. Abortions by chemicals are just as lethal to unborn children as abortions by surgery. Missouri Right to Life opposes abortions that are done by any means.

¹ For humans produced by cloning, the better word is “inception,” because they are not conceived in the usual sense.