Can a Catholic be an Obstetrician-Gynecologist?
The Catholic Church, over the years, has had a lot to say about issues related to the medical practice of an obstetrician-gynecologist. Perhaps more than any other single specialty, this group of physicians must deal with the Church's teachings in a variety of areas related to reproductive issues. In 1968, for example, the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae l , written by Pope Paul VI, reiterated the Church's traditional condemnation of contraception, sterilization and abortion. In 1987, the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released An Instruction on the Respectfor Human Life in its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation (Donum Vitae2). This instruction examined such critical issues as in vitro fertilization (IVF), experimentation on human embryos, surrogate motherhood, prenatal diagnosis and therapeutic procedures for the human embryo, infertility in marriage and legislation related to procreation. A fundamental concern of this instruction was that human life be respected: the embryo must be treated as a person and defended in its integrity. More recently, on March 25, 1995, Pope John Paul II released his comprehensive encyclical letter The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae3). In this encyclical, Pope John Paul II reiterated the teachings of Humanae Vitae and Donum Vitae. In addition, he challenged us to recognize "the inescapable responsibility of choosing to be unconditionally pro-life"4 (emphasis in the original). I have heard those involved in the education of young obstetriciangynecologists say that "One can't be a complete obstetrician-gynecologist unless one also provides contraception, sterilization and abortion services." While abortion continues to be somewhat controversial within the profession it is clear that obstetrics and gynecology, as a speciality, has become monolithic in its