Plan B won't be available OTC to younger teens, HHS says

[joeybee12]

Plan B, the so-called "morning after pill," won't be made available over the counter to girls younger than 17, regardless of what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends, according to a statement by U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

In a surprise move, Sebelius invoked her authority as the agency's head to overrule the recommendation of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research -- and the conclusions drawn by FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, according to statements issued today.

Sebelius indicated she objected to broadening the over-the-counter availability of emergency contraceptives containing the drug levonorgestrel because girls reaching reproductive maturity at age 11 -- or even younger -- could have access to the medication.

"It is common knowledge that there are significant cognitive and behavioral differences between older adolescent girls and the youngest girls of reproductive age," her statement said. "If the application were approved, the product would be available, without prescription, for all girls of reproductive age."

http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/07/9276757-plan-b-wont-be-available-otc-to-younger-teens-hhs-says

Let's call this what it is...caving to the right wing.

[Mojorabbit]

1. Good grief nt

[Warren DeMontague]

2. Oh, heavens, that's a relief.

:eyes:

[truebrit71]

3. Yay!! More "change"....

...:puke:

[tishaLA]

4. A really fucked up decision by the administration

very disappointing.

[KamaAina]

5. Better headline: "Sebelius comes out in favor of teen pregnancy"

:wtf:

[ecstatic]

6. I think it should be available, I'm just worried about the health effects

if misused due to ignorance. At 13/14, my judgment was bad a lot of times. Birth control is a serious drug and could result in death if used the wrong way.

[Bogart]

7. I suspect that Sebelius made this move to avoid the costs associated with litigating

a no-win case.

I am not an attorney, but I would think that the courts would not permit this drug to be administered to non-adults wi thouparental consent.