Walking Dead Is Dead Wrong on Emergency Contraception. Stick to Zombies.
The Walking Dead is a show on AMC that follows a group of Georgia residents trying to survive a post-zombie apocalypse. As a zombie show, The Walking Dead deals with a few less-than-realistic storylines. But what got many of the show’s fans in a tizzy the other night, tweeting and blogging about the episode’s ‘highly inaccurate’ story line? It wasn’t an argument over zombie kill tactics, or love-triangles, or if zombies like chicken (they do) — many fans were angry that the show’s female lead, Lori, took morning-after-pills so she could ‘give herself an abortion.’
WHAT?!
Lori taking the morning-after-pill, commonly known as emergency contraception, to end her pregnancy by inducing abortion would be just as effective as cutting a zombie’s finger off to kill it.
There is considerable confusion about the difference between medication abortion and emergency contraception, and it was distressing to see this misunderstanding further spread by a show like The Walking Dead. Aren’t they supposed to have fact checkers to catch this kind of thing? Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy and is especially useful in cases of unanticipated sexual activity, contraceptive failure, or sexual assault.
The Walking Dead, is not doing its fans or themselves any favors by promoting false information. Lori is several weeks pregnant and the morning-after-pill can't induce a miscarriage. What it can do is prevent pregnancy if taken within 5 days of unprotected sex; although the sooner it is taken the more likely it is to work.
Yes, this is a television show, and it isn’t real, but the misinformation about the morning-after-pill is very real. As the ACLU continues to fight to improve access to contraception for women and couples, we are also fighting to give people accurate information about contraception — not information influenced by politics, religion, or belief (or zombies).
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Nov 23rd, 2011 at 1:04pm
It's a pleasure when a blogger shares the real facts rather than opinions based on their emotional attachments to issues
Nov 23rd, 2011 at 3:21pm
Are characters in fiction required to know the truth about such things? Worse, are we letting fiction shows educate our children? Whatever happened to parental oversight? Let the electronic nanny handle it.
Nov 23rd, 2011 at 5:08pm
Yes, this plot point didn't upset me so much as confuse me.
Nov 24th, 2011 at 2:23am
You guys need to service some tree-huggers, doncha'. Stick to what you do best, rape the Constitution.
Nov 25th, 2011 at 1:59pm
It's almost as if this show is taking it's story from a comic or something.
Oh... Oh.
Nov 25th, 2011 at 4:34pm
Good catch. Misinformation purported by a tv show is a disservice to the viewing public.
Nov 26th, 2011 at 12:21am
So now television is required to have their shows' characters know the correct answers to everything? Please.
Nov 26th, 2011 at 1:02am
The morning after pill WILL NOT do anything for a woman if she is already pregnant.
Nov 26th, 2011 at 11:12am
The more important question is what do you think about all those guns in the hands of the survivors? Seems being armed helps more than a rape (zombie) whistle.
Nov 26th, 2011 at 5:40pm
Not sure the episode was promoting the medical accuracy of the method. Rather as a plot point: with no infrastructure left, the character was desperate enough to give it a shot.
Nov 28th, 2011 at 2:21am
It's a fictional program, ok? Quit trying to analyze the damn thing! Breathe deeply, relax and just enjoy it for what it is - an hourly program, nothing more, nothing less!
Nov 28th, 2011 at 2:50am
This is so stupid. that the ACLU felt it necessary to comment that a fictional tv show based on a zombie apocalypse isn't quite factual...REALLY, a zombie show isn't factual...who would've thought! seriously ACLU...get your head out of your...
Nov 29th, 2011 at 7:23pm
Wait . . . this isn't a reality show? I've already shot several walkers!
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