Family planning in Mexico at the present time. I. Attitude of the physician with respect to family planning
Alvarez-Bravo, A.
Gaceta Medica de Mexico 107(1): 7-11
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0016-3813 PMID: 4826054 Document Number: 423490
Responsible parenthood is a matter for general and familial education and is rightfully the province of all doctors. Decisions made regarding marriage, procreation, and family size effect the quality of future generations, i.e., the growth and development of infants and their eventual education. Responsible sex education should therefore be started at an early age. Instructing individuals as to their responsibility toward themselves and toward society as a whole may also eventually reduce reliance on sterilization and abortion as methods of birth control. Liberalized abortion laws may have serious, unfavorable consequences on adolescent sexual conduct by eliminating sexual responsibility and thus eluding the problem of responsible parenthood. There is a need for safe, effective, convenient, and universally acceptable contraceptives. The pill and the IUD are important contributions but have by no means solved the problem. Doctors should support all research efforts in that area. In short, doctors should treat problems associated with reproduction like they do any other medical problems, that is with a view toward maintaining health, curing illness, and promoting physical, mental, and social wellbeing, always keeping in mind that they are acting as public servants.