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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJudge Rules Emergency Contraception Should Be Available To All Women Over The Counter
By Tara Culp-Ressler
In a victory for birth control access, a U.S. federal judge has ordered the Food and Drug Administration to remove the current restrictions on the morning after pill, commonly known as Plan B. Even though the FDA initially recommended that Plan B should be available without a prescription for women of all ages, the Obama Administration overruled that decision in 2011 to restrict access to emergency contraception for those under the age of 17. On Friday, citing the administrations unnecessary political interference in the matter, Judge Edward R. Korman ordered the federal agency to reverse that decision.
Korman a Reagan-appointed judge determined that theres no reason to prevent teens from purchasing Plan B over the counter, pointing out that the morning after pill is among the safest drugs sold over the counter. The judge also criticized HHSs decision to overrule the FDA, explaining that many public health experts saw as a politically-motivated effort to avoid riling religious groups and others opposed to making birth control available to girls.
The conservative religious groups who oppose Plan B typically claim that it induces abortion, but the science proves them wrong. In fact, the morning after pill is a form of preventative contraception that is approved by doctors groups across the country, and expanding access to it is a proven method of reducing the abortion rate. Last fall, the American Academy of Pediatrics came out in support of expanding young peoples access to Plan B, explaining that requiring teens under the age of 17 to obtain a prescription presents a major barrier for those adolescents that may prevent them from using it correctly.
- more -
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/04/05/1826411/judge-plan-b-over-counter/
JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)niyad
(113,552 posts)Sekhmets Daughter
(7,515 posts)You know someone is going to file an appeal....
BillStein
(758 posts)The amazing thing is that we're still arging this half a century after Griswald.
If I had a daughter, I'd want to be responsible for her health care, not the government- and certainly not the church
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)"Shame that it takes a judge to tell a Dem Admin to do this."
...a Democratic administration that initially proposed it.
FIRST 100 DAYS OF OBAMA ADMINISTRATION SEES WOMENS HEALTH BECOME A NATIONAL PRIORITY
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/first-100-days-obama-administration-sees-womens-health-become-national-priority-26747.htm
Statement by Cecile Richards, President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Allowing Emergency Contraception to Be Sold OTC to Women 17 Years Old and Older
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/statement-cecile-richards-president-planned-parenthood-federation-america-us-food-drug-administ-26745.htm
In fact, it was infighting in a Democratic administration that led to the court battle.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)Tell me what it has to do with the facts related to the issue and I'll answer.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Why did it take a judge?
Didnt the Pres Obama admin make it clear they favored the over the counter sales?
MotherPetrie
(3,145 posts)young women's health.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)MotherPetrie
(3,145 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Do you think his selection of Sebelius was another bad appointment?
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Why would he appoint Sebelius?
BumRushDaShow
(129,441 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)"In his ruling on Friday, Korman said Sebelius' actions were clearly political." Was the WH supporting Sebelius' position? Am I missing something?
Am I correct thinking it took a judge to make the Democrats do the correct thing?
cali
(114,904 posts)President Obama opposes over the counter dispensing of the morning after pill to girls under 17 and yes, it took a judge to force the issue.
Response to cali (Reply #19)
rhett o rick This message was self-deleted by its author.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)I heard on the news last night something about whether or not the WH was going to challenge the decision. Have they decided?
cali
(114,904 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)suffragette
(12,232 posts)As you can tell from my posts in that thread, I agree with the judge's decision and am glad for this positive change.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)England and Canada. Double. Utterly ridiculous. Why must we be behind all the other developed nations on EVERYTHING?
cali
(114,904 posts)teen pregnancy rates have been falling significantly over the past decade in the U.S. And of course, in some states, the teen pregnancy rate is lower than in Great Britain. In any case, this is good news.
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)higher than other countries.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/30/teen-pregnancy-us-_n_802854.html
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)opiate69
(10,129 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Good grief. Whose side are they on?