Essay Archive - Through A Narrow Chink: An Ethical Dilemma
Through A Narrow Chink: An Ethical Dilemma
In 1951 Carl Djerassi, with the Mexican pharmaceutical company Syntex,
developed the first oral contraceptive by synthesizing and altering the natural
hormone Progesterone into a superpotent, highly effective oral progestational
hormone called "norethindrone".
Admittedly, the dynamics and importance of this find were astounding,
since before this the only means of contraception was abortion, and even that
was not legalized at the time.
The race to produce this synthetic agent was highly competit....
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