Latin American page
An Interview with Dr. Fernando Rosero
A Historic Victory Against MAP In Ecuador
Since the end of May 2006, Postinor II (a brand name for levonorgestrel 0.75mg) cannot be sold in Ecuador. That was the decision of the Constitutional Court after a battle of more than two years against this form of the morning-after pill (MAP). ‘A historic victory’ was the phrase of Dr. Fernando Rosero, a young lawyer who led the successful legal action.
Ending fierce debate, the Ecuadorian court decided that local promoters of MAP did not have enough scientific evidence to demonstrate that Postinor II has only contraceptive mechanisms of action. In other words, they couldn’t prove that the documented anti-implanatory effect of levonorgestrel 0.75 mg does not exist. Sometimes, MAP may prevent conception, and then its label ’emergency contraception’ is justified. But sometimes, MAP prevents the implantation of an already-conceived embryo’thus killing an unborn child. During the legal battle, it was shown how worldwide medical consensus accepts the anti-implanatory effect of MAP, including experts at the Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization, and pharmaceutical labs.
PRI Latin American Director, Carlos Polo, interviewed Dr. Fernando Rosero right after he received official papers from the court.
Polo: I am a witness to how you were concerned about this issue. How do you feel now’
Rosero: This is an historic victory, Carlos. The power of an international coalition was defeated by a tiny group of people, people of good will with only the intention to protect life. I saw them giving their time and money. I am so grateful and so impressed. I have met many, many generous people with no other intention than to protect unborn lives facing a campaign funded by the manufacturer of levonorgestrel, Gedeon Ritcher, a lab from Hungary. It was not an equal fight but we never were afraid because we had the confidence that the Truth was always with us.
Polo: We know this decision will be a tremendous precedent for other Latin American countries which have legal protection for the unborn and also the same campaigns in favor of MAP. How could you summarize this importance’
Rosero: Judges showed common sense about the MAP issue. MAP promoters were obliged to prove without any doubt that MAP has only contraceptive effects. They had been saying that we pro-lifers needed to prove MAP is abortifacient, but this is not the legal perspective. A scientific debate should precede legal permission to sell a drug if there is any possibility of killing human beings. From this point on, everything is very clear: Scientific evidence supports our statements, not theirs.
Polo: It sounds clever and easy, but it was everything but easy.
Rosero: Of course, it was hard for us. We suffered tremendous pressure all the time. I was insulted and attacked many times in the mass media. You know Gedeon Ritcher gave a discount for the first shipment of Postinor II of $100,000 in order to fund ‘some activities to launch the product in Ecuador.’ It meant not only the support of gynecologists, but also journalists and even some politicians. Unhappily in my country, judges are usually influenced by all of that. That’s why I am so proud of these good judges. They resisted the pressure.
Polo: In my first visit to Ecuador, you told me you were involved in the MAP issue but you could never imagine how your life would change with it. What do you think now’
Rosero: I had no pro-life experience or background. With a bunch of friends, we used to help poor people with food, clothes or medicines, especially at Christmas. But the MAP debate got my attention. People were misinformed in a very important matter. Many young women would kill their babies without any knowledge of what they were doing. It was so unfair. Of course, I thought it was a simple matter. You know, I would provide correct information and I thought that would be all. I never knew how huge was the power behind all of it. Surely, I would have been afraid. But I felt the commitment step-by-step. It shocked me but it was a spiritual experience. I saw many people praying with me and for me. I began to pray as well.
Polo: It is time to celebrate but after this, what is next for MAP in Ecuador’
Rosero: We immediately need to present a new legal action, not against a brand name but against levonorgestrel itself. There is another brand name with the same drug. I think it would be easier as the court is clear about MAP now. I hope Population Research Institute will help in this new step also. Information you provided us through the website www.tercerefecto.com and your strategy input were crucial.
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