Judge orders FDA to let 17-year-olds use Plan B

Right on!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090323/ap_on_bi_ge/morning_after_pill

NEW YORK – The Food and Drug Administration let politics cloud its judgment when it denied teenage girls over-the-counter access to the Plan B morning-after pill, a federal judge said Monday as he ordered the FDA to let 17-year-olds obtain the medication.

In a thorough denunciation of the Bush administration, U.S. District Judge Edward Korman blasted the FDA's handling of the issue, saying it had "repeatedly and unreasonably" delayed issuing a decision on the medication.

The morning-after pill is a source of tension for social conservatives who held great sway in the Bush administration and who believe the pill is tantamount to abortion.

The ruling said the FDA in several instances had delayed issuing a ruling for suspect reasons and on two occasions only took action to facilitate the confirmation of acting FDA commissioners whose confirmations had been held up by the repeated delays.

"These political considerations, delays, and implausible justifications for decision-making are not the only evidence of a lack of good faith and reasoned decision-making," Korman said. "Indeed, the record is clear that the FDA's course of conduct regarding Plan B departed in significant ways from the agency's normal procedures regarding similar applications to switch a drug product from prescription to non-prescription use."

more at the link

that the good U.S. District Judge Edward Korman blasted. Things should change with the Obama appointments.

Actually, 17 year olds have been using Plan B. Prior to this ruling today which is awesome, they had to use a prescription to obtain Plan B. However, people 18 and over have beeen able to get Plan B without a prescription. So, it has been OTC for only 18 and over for awhile, but now under this ruling it will become OTC for those under 18. I am really happy to hear that those under 18 will no longer face any obstacle in obtaining Plan B. I always thought that it was stupid to require a prescription for Plan B. Since Plan B is emergency contraception it doesn't really make sense to delay teens in taking Plan B by requiring that they get an appointment with a doctor and get a prescription. The optimal window for taking Plan B after sex is up to 72 hours. I have always wondered why the FDA seemed willing to take the risk of increased teen pregnancy that could easily result from making teens get a prescription. There are plenty of teens who would feel uncomfortable talking to a doctor even if their parents wouldn't find out. Now teens can go to the pharmacy as soon as they can and buy Plan B.

:hide:

with parents who want them to give up the babies.

I don't know if that is really true, but I wouldn't put it past them.

Apparently, they were quite concerned that people would start using Plan B on a daily basis as a substitute for the pill. Anyone who has seen the price tag on Plan B knows that there is no way anybody would be able to afford a month on Plan B. The price is too high in my opinion especially for teenage girls.

than a 30 year old (who is generally better equipped to deal with an unexpected pregnancy). Hell, the younger one is, the more crucial it becomes to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.

to terminate pregnancies in Wisconsin. Plan B is is a safe means of preventing pregnancy.

Welcome news indeed.

that most pregnancies terminate naturally anyway. Therefore this pill only insures what likely to happen naturally anyway. Or in RW speak, God is the biggest abortionist around.

Fundies heads are rolling. Double bonus!

Great decision though, and also a painfully obvious one.