DNC: FDA Should Stop Playing Politics with Women's Health

[MaineDem]

For Immediate Release
November 3, 2005
Contact: Amaya Smith 202-863-8148

FDA Should Stop Playing Politics with Women's Health

Washington, DC--- Yesterday, the public comment period ended on the decision to
make the emergency contraception drug Plan B available for over-the-counter
sale. It has been nearly two years since the FDA's advisory committee
recommended that the contraceptive Plan B be available for non-prescription
sales, yet the drug's approval has been bogged down in the politics of those
within the agency who want to interfere with a woman's right to make decisions
about her own healthcare.

The FDA's outgoing Commissioner Lester Crawford has repeatedly postponed the
decision. Two respected officials have resigned in frustration because Crawford
dragged his feet, and made agency decisions based on political influence rather
than scientific and clinical evidence. Still, the agency has ignored the
opinions of respected medical consultants who agree that the drug is effective
and can safely be used by women of all age groups. Last month, Crawford
resigned from his post after news reports detailed his failure to fully
disclose his financial interests in companies which manufacture drugs regulated
by the agency. A Senate committee has opened a bipartisan investigation to
determine if Dr. Crawford complied with federal ethics laws and if his
financial disclosure statements were accurate.

"The FDA has a duty to examine medicines based on scientific and clinical
evidence, yet they have ignored the advice of experts who agree that Plan B is
safe for over-the-counter sales," said Democratic National Committee
Communications Director Karen Finney. "The FDA has an obligation to impartially
review drugs. They should stop dragging their feet and fulfill this obligation
instead of playing politics with the reproductive health of American women."

"Crawford's handling of the Plan B approval process represents two of the worst
traits of the Bush Administration: the culture of corruption and using narrow
ideology to trump science and the interest of a majority of Americans.
President Bush should not have appointed someone with significant stock
holdings in pharmaceutical companies to run the FDA. President Bush should not
have allowed Crawford to inject his right wing ideology into scientific
decisions. America deserves a government that will make honest, impartial
decisions that promotes Americas' good health, not an extreme right-wing
ideology."

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Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.
org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's
committee.

[rodeodance]

1. i heard something about some introducing a resolution to get the FDA

to make a decision. If not--then it would become law. But sorry, I only caught it in the background.