part of a woman's body as her as it passes. Otherwise, you'll
heart or liver and, similarly, get flattened."
should not be [bought or sold]
"DESIGNER"
CONTRACEPTIVES
GET FDA GO-AHEAD
Could Be work by taking a sperm or ovum
Available In sample and culturing its DNA in
order to create a custom-de-Two Months signed injection that "switches off" the genetic codes for ovula-tion or sperm production. The
Times Wire Service neutralizing compounds
WASHINGTON-The FDA Ovugen and Spermagen switch
announced that it has granted ap-the genetic codes back on.
proval for two different injectable Ironically, both were labeled
contraceptives manufactured by safe and effective by the FDA
Brunner Pharmaceuticals of Pas-six months before the blockers
saic, New Jersey. Ovustat, an were..
ovulation blocker for women and Public demand for the in-Spermastat, a sperm disabler for credibly convenient contracep-men, have been available in Eu-tive has resulted in a flurry of rope, Canada, and portions of one-day "vacations" to Canada South America for three years. followed by another one-day
Both offer permanent contracep-"business trip" the subsequent tive action until neutralized by a week. One week, of course, is
counteracting injection, after the time it takes to culture the
which fertility is permanently re-genetic sample and create the
stored. designer contraceptive.
The FDA denied that it bowed What next for Brunner Phar-to public pressure in its decision. maceuticals now that the FDA
"The drugs are simply safe and has issued its approval? Dr. Ian
effective. Period," said FDA Brunner, the company's
spokesperson Janet Allan. "That founder, says, "We're close to we were able to make such a swift the testing stage for Virocidan,
decision should be considered a the antivirus virus. When ap-tribute to our recent reorganiza-proved, we plan to market it tion." separately and in a package
Both Ovustat and Spermastat with Ovustat and Spermastat."
TRANSOPTION CLINIC,
FACING NEW AGE,
GOES WITH FLOW
Declining Practice became legal in the U.S.," she
Prompts Switch said, "we moved into the market
to "Contras" and adapted the failing com-pany to the altered demands of Exclusive to the Herald the time. The new millennium,
SANTA MONICA-Citing though, brought with it some
the decline in elective transop-rapid changes. LifeSwitch is
tions, the president of Life-proving that it can once again
Switch Prenatal Adoptions to-adapt to new realities."
day announced that its entire With the change comes a new
nationwide chain of seventeen name. Says Czernek, "To reflect
transoption clinics will shift our shift in emphasis, Life-emphasis from transoption to Switch Prenatal Adoptions will genetic contraception. "Tran-become ContraTemps. We will
soptions will still be per-also have an initial public offer-formed," said president and ing of stock this spring in order CEO Valerie Czernek, but "we to finance an aggressive expan-have to adapt to the times." sion program." When she and her husband, As unanticipated and un-Ron Czernek, bought the chain wanted pregnancies continue to three years ago, "it consisted of decline, ContraTemps may well
six financially strapped abor-become a symbol of the chang-tion clinics. When transoption ing shape of a new era.
VALEDICTORY SPEECH
IS BIG NEWS!
Local Woman Gets World Coverage
Exclusive to the Times-Observer
LOS GATOS-Renata Chandler, Los Gatos High School graduating
class valedictorian, got more than she bargained for when she delivered her commencement speech yesterday. Under siege of videocams and micro-phones, her words reached a worldwide audience estimated at over one billion.
Renata is no stranger to the public eye. As the world's first transoptive baby, she has endured eighteen years of public scrutiny. Moving to Los Gatos at age seven, the perky blond kid quickly made friends who have grown up with her and who know how well she has handled her unintentional fame.
"When that TV movie about her came out, she took it in good stride," said classmate Sally Vanderlaan. "She called it `Womb at the Top' and thought it was hilarious."
Renata's commencement speech, instead of dealing primarily with the
challenge the graduating class faces ahead, concentrated on the contribu-tion of previous generations. Her proud first stage and second stage co-parents-Valerie and Ron Czernek and Karen and David Chandler, respec-tively-were in attendance to give their daughter a hearty round of applause. Also on hand was Dr. Evelyn Fletcher, the Nobel Prize-winning surgeon who performed the first transoption over nineteen years ago.
When commencement ended, Renata dodged reporters to attend the
prom with J. Philip Nobel, Jr., son of the noted Saratoga News film critic. (See page 3 for complete text of commencement speeches.)
Commencement Speech
by Renata V. Chandler
Los Gatos High School Class Valedictorian
"Thank you, Ms. Canrinus, faculty, staff, and graduates. Most valedictory speeches consist of platitudes concerning the bright future we have ahead, the daring challenges we'll face, and the solemn responsibility we have to make the world a better place.
"I stand here today and ask instead that we look back, to thank those in the past who have struggled to do the same. For we are indeed in a world that is a better place. I say that neither with youthful myopia nor comfortable ignorance. I speak as one who knows.
"Though we can all admit knowledge of this fact, I am the only one in my graduating class who can say this from a par-ticular point of view. Next year there will be three. The year after that, a dozen or more. I would not be here, alive and filled with joy at our future, were it not for eyes that looked at the world and saw the need for change.
"One person. What a staggering difference one person, one life, can make. One woman decided that death was intoler-able. She saved one life. One tiny, insignificant, nearly invis-ible life. And through that action millions came to be saved. Saved without the oppression of any other human being.
"As the first of my kind, I've received the lion's share of pub-lic scrutiny. Because of this, though, I cultivated an interest in my kindred spirits. I have sought them out, observed them, and I'm pleased to report that they are coming along nicely. I haven't found out about them all, of course, not even a small fraction. But thanks to the love of life and the devotion to prin-ciples of a significant few of the previous two generations, the human race has welcomed over twenty-two million extra members to its ranks.
"Twenty-two million is not a great percentage of the eight billion alive today. Every single life, though, matters. I would not be here to say that if one of our elders had not thought so. And every single person can make a difference.
"We entered the third millennium in a headlong rush to cor-rect the problems of the last twenty centuries. Some said that overpopulation was the cause of all our miseries and sought to suppress reproductive choice. But the wise ones realized that the demon was not a glut of humanity but a dearth of respect for the rights of its members. Who were the wise ones? In retrospect, we can see that they weren't the presidents and kings, the powerful and the established. The wise ones were the mothers who conceived us and gave birth to us or who gave us to another rather than kill us. They were the mothers who received us in our defenseless condition. They were the fathers who loved and protected us. And they were the doc-tors, teachers, relatives, and friends who saw us not as oddi-ties but as mere humans with all the rights and responsibili-ties such an honor bestows.