Judge orders morning-after pill available without prescription

[jimnyc]

So now it's DISCRIMINATION to not give easy abortion access to those under 17?

(CNN) -- A federal judge in Brooklyn, New York, has ordered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make the morning-after birth control pill available to people of any age without a prescription.

The order overturned a 2011 decision by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to require a prescription for girls under 17.

The FDA said it couldn't comment because it is an ongoing legal matter.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended last year that oral contraceptives be sold over the counter in an effort to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies in the United States. Opponents of prescription requirements say prescriptions can delay access to the drug.

In 2011, Teva Women's Health Inc., maker of Plan B One-Step, had asked the FDA to make the drug available without prescription to all sexually active girls and women. Sebelius overruled the FDA's recommendation, saying, "I do not believe enough data were presented to support the application."

On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Edward Korman said, "The decisions of the Secretary with respect to Plan B One-Step and that of the FDA with respect to the Citizen Petition, which it had no choice but to deny, were arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable."

Friday's order came in response to a lawsuit launched by the Center for Reproductive Rights. The group was seeking to expand access to all brands of the morning-after pill over the counter, such as Plan B One-Step and Next Choice, so that women of all ages would be able to purchase them without a prescription.

"Today science has finally prevailed over politics," Nancy Northup, the center's president and CEO, said in a statement. "This landmark court decision has struck a huge blow to the deep-seated discrimination that has for too long denied women access to a full range of safe and effective birth control methods."

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/05/health...html?hpt=hp_t2

[fj1200]

So now it's DISCRIMINATION to not give easy abortion access to those under 17?

Today science has finally prevailed over politics," Nancy Northup, the center's president and CEO, said in a statement. "This landmark court decision has struck a huge blow to the deep-seated discrimination that has for too long denied women access to a full range of safe and effective birth control methods."

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/05/health...html?hpt=hp_t2

I'm sure she'll be right on the lawsuit bandwagon when someone uses the drugs and something goes horribly wrong... beyond it's intended use of course.

[jimnyc]

I'm sure she'll be right on the lawsuit bandwagon when someone uses the drugs and something goes horribly wrong... beyond it's intended use of course.

Imagine finding out your 13-16yr old girl has been sleeping around, partly because she knows she can pop a pill and avoid "consequences". If a 13-16yr old girl is not old enough to form a contract, not old enough to drive, not old enough to drink... She sure isn't old enough to deal with whether or not to end a life. This is where parents come in and help their children. No one should be helping kids with birth control issues other than their parents.

[aboutime]

Just one more step toward the cesspool of ignorance in America.

[logroller]

So now it's DISCRIMINATION to not give easy abortion access to those under 17?



http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/05/health...html?hpt=hp_t2

There is no evidence that plan b (aka the morning after pill) prevents implantation of a fertilized embyro. Its not an abortion, its a contraceptive. Big difference, wouldn't you say?

[Syrenn]

Imagine finding out your 13-16yr old girl has been sleeping around, partly because she knows she can pop a pill and avoid "consequences". If a 13-16yr old girl is not old enough to form a contract, not old enough to drive, not old enough to drink... She sure isn't old enough to deal with whether or not to end a life. This is where parents come in and help their children. No one should be helping kids with birth control issues other than their parents.

Did you talk sex with your parents when you were 13 years old? Mom..dad, can i have some condoms? I sure as hell was not going to discuss sex with my mother, let alone tell her i was taking the pill. I asked her one day why didn't she ever talk sex with me when i was a teen.... her answer was that she thought they taught us about it in school.

If parents have no inkling of what their children are up to, what makes you think they will fess up when something bad happens if they can deal with the problem themselves?

[jimnyc]

There is no evidence that plan b (aka the morning after pill) prevents implantation of a fertilized embyro. Its not an abortion, its a contraceptive. Big difference, wouldn't you say?

Firstly, you're correct, I think my blood pressure went up and I posted in a reactionary manner.

And while a big difference, it's still insane to be giving things like this out to kids. They are not of legal age and under PARENTS care, not planned parenthood!

[jimnyc]

Did you talk sex with your parents when you were 13 years old? Mom..dad, can i have some condoms? I sure as hell was not going to discuss sex with my mother, let alone tell her i was taking the pill. I asked her one day why didn't she ever talk sex with me when i was a teen.... her answer was that she thought they taught us about it in school.

If parents have no inkling of what their children are up to, what makes you think they will fess up when something bad happens if they can deal with the problem themselves?

So we pawn off responsibilities regarding our kids sex lives to schools and planned parenthood?

[jimnyc]

This whole site is worth looking at, but this section in particular. It's from a Catholic source, I acknowledge that up front, but that doesn't mean this is wrong...

http://www.morningafterpill.org/how-does-it-work.html

How Does it Work?

The emergency contraceptive/morning-after pill has three modes of action (as does the regular birth control pill); that is, it can work in one of three ways:

1. The normal menstrual cycle is altered, delaying ovulation; or
2. Ovulation is inhibited, meaning the egg will not be released from the ovary;
3. It can irritate the lining of the uterus (endometrium) so as to inhibit implantation.

Keep in mind that fertilization (the union of female ovum, or egg, and male sperm) occurs in the fallopian tube and that fertilization marks the beginning of a new human life - and the beginning of the pregnancy. The newly created child then travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus (womb) where he or she implants. Implantation is necessary for the new child to receive nourishment from the mother and continue developing. The journey from the fallopian tube to the womb takes between five and seven days during which pregnancy cannot be readily detected.
Therefore, if a woman ingests emergency contraception after fertilization has taken place, the third mode of action can occur. The lining of the uterus can be altered causing the woman's body to reject the living human embryo, making implantation impossible and the child will die. This result is called a chemical abortion; therefore emergency contraception is an abortifacient.
So, the only real "emergency" in all of this is the woman's fear of being pregnant.
Two of the most commonly used emergency contraceptive pills are Preven and Plan B. The websites for both of these drugs clearly indicate that each can work to prevent a "fertilized egg" (which is actually a newly formed human being) from implanting in the uterine wall:

How do the PREVEN® emergency contraceptive pills prevent pregnancy?
PREVEN® can stop or delay ovulation (the release of an egg), it can stop sperm from fertilizing an egg if it was already released, and it can stop a fertilized egg from attaching to the wall of the uterus."
Source: http://www.drugs.com/mtm/preven-ec.html

How Does Plan B® Work?
Plan B® (levonorgestrel) may prevent pregnancy by temporarily stopping the release of an egg from a woman's ovary, or it may prevent fertilization. It may also prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus. "
Source: http://www.planbonestep.com/faqs.aspx

Proponents of "emergency contraception," as well as the Preven and Plan B websites, contend that emergency contraception does not cause abortion. They argue that emergency contraception prevents pregnancy and thereby reduces the need for induced abortion. However, they intentionally define the term "pregnancy" as implantation of a fertilized egg in the lining of a woman's uterus, as opposed to "pregnancy" beginning at fertilization.
Whether one understands pregnancy as beginning at "implantation" or "fertilization," the heart of the matter is when human life begins. It is important to keep in mind that scientists have confirmed that at the moment the sperm and the egg join (fertilization), a new human being is created who is completely different from his/her mother.
This is not a subjective opinion, but an objective scientific fact. Accordingly, any artificial action that works to destroy a fertilized egg (human embryo) is abortifacient in nature.
See http://www.all.org/article.php?id=10325 and http://www.all.org/article.php?id=10125
Check out this video that explains how the pill is abortifacient (i.e., how it can kill your preborn baby without you even knowing):
The common description of the MAP as emergency "contraception" fails to accurately describe its possible abortifacient action and is misleading the public. The confusion is aggravated by attempts to re-define pregnancy as occurring after implantation. Potential users of MAP are not told that this drug may abort an established pregnancy. This is not informed consent.
Some basic facts about ovulation and the possibility of becoming pregnant:

1. A woman ovulates approximately once every 28 days. Therefore the chance that a woman will ovulate on any randomly selected day is 3.57 percent.
2. When a woman ovulates, the egg is able to be fertilized for 12-24 hours (1 day).
3. When sperm enters the woman's body, it remains alive and able to fertilize an egg for 1-5 days.
4. It takes emergency contraception from 12-24 hours to be effective (1 day).
5. Emergency contraception remains effective for at least 10 days.
6. It takes a fertilized egg 5-7 days after ovulation to implant in the woman's womb.

In 78% of all cases, taking emergency contraception is unnecessary because the woman could not have conceived a child (meaning she was not fertile to begin with).
Thus, emergency contraception only has an effect 22 percent of the time.
Of those 22 percent, the mode of action in which the emergency contraception works depends on when the woman takes it:

Emergency contraception taken within 24 hours, will act 43 percent of the time by preventing implantation (thus killing the newly created child)
Emergency contraception taken between 24 and 48 hours will act 57 percent of the time by preventing implantation (thus killing the newly created child)
Emergency contraception taken between 48 and 72 hours will act 71 percent of the time by preventing implantation (thus killing the newly created child)

See http://www.all.org/article.php?id=10150.
Experts confirm abortifacient potential of morning-after pill
The most recent scientific study on Levonorgestrel, the essential component of the "morning-after pill" or "emergency contraceptive," confirms that the drug does indeed have a third effect on users, which consists in preventing the implantation of a fertilized ovum in the womb of the mother.
The promoters of the drug in Latin America, where most countries have laws against abortion, have argued that the there is no scientific basis for the "third effect," and that therefore the drug should be legalized. Dr. Horacio Croxatto, professor at the Chilean Institute of Reproductive Medicine, said in 2006 that the morning-after pill "is not abortifacient because it only prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation."
Nevertheless, the most recent study (2007) by Doctors Mikolajczyk and Stanford of the Department of Medicine in Public Health of the University of Bielefeld (Germany) clearly indicates that the pill's "real effect" includes mechanisms that prevent implantation.

[jimnyc]

And then read about the safety issues. Would you want your child under 17 taking something like this without you being involved in ensuring it's the proper course?

http://www.morningafterpill.org/is-e...ption-saf.html

[Syrenn]

Firstly, you're correct, I think my blood pressure went up and I posted in a reactionary manner.

And while a big difference, it's still insane to be giving things like this out to kids. They are not of legal age and under PARENTS care, not planned parenthood!

that's just it... it will no longer need a prescription or planned parenthood. You can pick it up at the drug store.

[Syrenn]

So we pawn off responsibilities regarding our kids sex lives to schools and planned parenthood?

you may not, others hear may not..... but the vast majority do. I think having the sex talk is embarrassing for most parents...and if they think they can get out of it, they let it go thinking they will be taught in school.

If a 13 year old is asking for condoms.... they most likely think they need them. Thinking about using condoms is better then not thinking about condoms. If they are asking for them at school and not mom and dad.... that should tell you something right there.

same for the morning after pill for teen girls. If they had had a good relationship with thier parents...they would have asked to be put on the pill. I know what i was up to at that age.... i have no doubt girls today are the same... or worse.

[jimnyc]

that's just it... it will no longer need a prescription or planned parenthood. You can pick it up at the drug store.

I don't think they should be able to do so. It's no different than selling a child the pill without a prescription. Its once again outside forces thinking they can parent better than parents and think they know what is best for our children. A kid is liable to think this IS just like the regular pill and start using it daily to prevent pregnancy. Their 'youth' and naivety could potentially screw up their bodies.

[jimnyc]

you may not, others hear may not..... but the vast majority do. I think having the sex talk is embarrassing for most parents...and if they think they can get out of it, they let it go thinking they will be taught in school.

If a 13 year old is asking for condoms.... they most likely think they need them. Thinking about using condoms is better then not thinking about condoms. If they are asking for them at school and not mom and dad.... that should tell you something right there.

same for the morning after pill for teen girls. If they had had a good relationship with thier parents...they would have asked to be put on the pill. I know what i was up to at that age.... i have no doubt girls today are the same... or worse.

Embarassment, poor parenting or poor relationships should not equate to a lowering of standards for ALL kids and just throw caution to the wind and hope they'll be responsible. Poor parents and such shouldn't result in good parents having to deal with this stuff being too accessible for their children.

[Syrenn]

And then read about the safety issues. Would you want your child under 17 taking something like this without you being involved in ensuring it's the proper course?

http://www.morningafterpill.org/is-e...ption-saf.html

would you want your teen daughter pregnant or having an abortion?


The optional, in a perfect world situation is that the parents of a girl are understanding, non judgmental and supportive. They will take their daughter without comment (ever) in to their family doctor or drug store that day for the morning after pill.

IF a girl is seeking this on her own without her parents knowledge.... then she does not live in said perfect world.

do you think it is easy for a teen to talk to their parents about their sex lives? Do you think it would be easy for a girl to go to her parents and tell them she is pregnant or may be pregnant if she did not get the MAP?