Today the Food and Drug Administration decided that women 18 and older will not need a medical prescription to obtain the morning-after drug. However, women younger than 18 will continue to need a doctor's permission to obtain Plan B, the moniker for the new pills. Basically, this drug is a very strong dose of the one contained within the regular birth control pill. If taken within the first 72 hours after "unprotected" sex, the probability of pregnancy is reduced by up to 89%. If the woman is pregnant already, the pills purportedly have no effect. (As J notes in the first comment, infra., the morning-after pill also precludes the implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus.) Proponents of the over-the-counter sales point out that doctors are difficult to find on weekends and holidays. Opponents counter that women may get a false sense of security and that minors may be forced to take the pills by their adult partners.
Cf. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060824/D8JMREMO0.html.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
James, you might also note that opponents of the Morning After pill argue that the pill can be an abortifacient by preventing implantation of a fertilized egg.
You're right, J: that point was just made on The Big Story (FNC).
Post a Comment