Pill access could usher a new era of choices, moral rifts

[Judi Lynn]

Aug. 22, 2005, 12:56AM

Pill access could usher a new era of choices, moral rifts
FDA will weigh over-the-counter availability of morning-after contraception
By TODD ACKERMAN
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

To many women, the morning-after pill is an almost-ideal solution to the possibility of an unwanted pregnancy after unprotected sex — safe, affordable treatment that can be taken at home.
Except for one thing: It's not that easy to get it the morning after.

The Food and Drug Administration is about to decide whether to make the morning-after pill available over the counter, a decision that could usher in a new era in the culture wars, revolutionizing the debate about abortion and impacting intimate decisions.

Nancy, a 34-year-old mother who asked that her last name be withheld, found that out the hard way recently. After her husband's condom broke on a Saturday night, she called for a doctor's prescription the first thing Monday morning, only to learn at day's end that the doctor wasn't "comfortable" filling it.
(snip)

The plan is being hailed and decried by the usual suspects. Abortion-rights leaders say it would give women greater reproductive freedom and even reduce the rate of abortions. Abortion opponents say it would cause more abortions, just nonsurgical ones, and lead to more irresponsible sexual behavior.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3319606

[SoCalDem]

1. Maybe the doctors will be nmore "comfortable" when they get

sued for child support and medical malpractice:)

Women of childbearing age need to start getting these meds from alternate sources, and have them onhand. AFTER the fact is a dicey time to be searching for these things. Time is of the essence.

There is also a way to use regular birth control pills as a morning after remedy.. googling could probably provide some guidance in advance:)

[wli]

2. those kinds of lawsuits are excellent ideas n/t

[rodeodance]

3. the best thing --is that women can make choices without the RW or

others having their noses in private affairs!!


.......To abortion foes, however, it's all part of a strategy to make abortion more acceptable by making it more commonplace. They also cite the FDA approval five years ago of RU-486, the "month-after" abortifacient with which the morning-after pill is sometimes confused.

"These nonsurgical abortions numb the effect," said Stacey Emick, legislative director for Texas Right to Life. "Instead of the horrific images of a baby being dismembered, you get pregnancy as disease and pills to cure it."........

[Sgent]

4. While I agree

with making the morning after pill more accessable, I'm still not sure I feel comfortable making it OTC for the exact reason that this article takes -- that it may wind up ushering in a new era of choices.

The lady who cited was denied proper medical care -- and has a resonable case of abadonment against her physician.

That being said, I would urge some sort of "in between" solution. The MOP, essentially a triple dose birth control pill, can have serious health reprecussions. I would think that at some point there needs to be counseling with the woman in question -- whether by the physician or pharmacist. I support under the counter distribution (like many states are using with cold remedies).

I am afraid that if allowed completely over the counter, it will result in significant health problems to women. Those who do not or are unable to understand the reprecussions of using the drug on a regular basis, and substitute its use for normal birth control methods.

[Robb]

7. But that could be said of most any OTC drug...

"Those who do not or are unable to understand the repercussions of using the drug on a regular basis"

Like, say, diet pills? Ever seen someone abuse Stackers? Ugly. Why remove MOP and discuss it separately?

If one potentially dangerous drug is available OTC, why should another not be? It is applied only to women?

[Sgent]

9. Diet pills

IMHO should fall under the same guidelines -- and infact most of them will since they contain ephedra.

While I agree with much of what you say, espcially with women who are knowledgeable of their own sexuality and birth control, my fear is amongst those who are younger in most circumstances. I worry about those who are not intellectually mature as regards sexuality. Who have not been educated, and who will wind up in more trouble.

Its not just the regular needs such as pap smears or HPV testing, its also a knowledge of STD's, etc. At least in my area, a huge amount of education is done by pediatritions, family physicians, and OBs when a teenage client approaches them for birth control. This includes if the do so at the health department where it is free.

[LincolnMcGrath]

12. "most contain ephedra"

Ephedra has been banned for two years.

[Sgent]

15. sorry pseudoephedrine

[Ripley]

8. So you think women are too dumb or too irresponsible huh?

Nice. "Those who do not or are unable to understand the reprecussions of using the drug on a regular basis, and substitute its use for normal birth control methods.

You could make that statement about cough syrup or beer for that matter. Why is it only when it comes to a product for females that the barricades are thrown up and the "message: I care" comes out, hmm?

Do you worry about all those college boys drinking case after case of Budweiser?

[alkaline9]

10. bushco had many reprecussions...

...that many Americans were unaware of. I understand that most people don't read the pamphlet that comes with medicine we buy, but it doesn't mean that it's not effective and safe for a majority. I think about all the good that having this be OTC can do... and I weigh that against the potential for problems for women in the future who take this without understanding the risks... and I still come up that it should be their choice OTC.

What about all the women who are raped but never have the courage to come forward about it? Only so they can have the burden of carrying a baby of a rapist? Or have to pay (and possibly suffer, due to their beliefs) for an abortion? Wouldn't this make that situation a lot easier?

[Sgent]

13. Um....

I'm not sure how your example applies.

What I was advocating was "under the counter" dispensing -- not perscription dispensing. Meaning they would have to talk with a pharmacist, with the general idea being the pharmacist reminds them that this is effective for occasional use, but can be dangerous if used as their primary form of birth control.

[MaineDem]

11. Here in Maine it's "behind the counter"

Pharmacists are allowed to dispense it without a doc's script. The State offers training to interested pharmacists and once they take it they're allowed to dispense.

I was at my pharmacy the other day and urged the pharmacist to do this. He wasn't even aware of the program. :eyes:

[WildClarySage]

5. What is 'irresponsible sexual behavior' and who gets to decide that?

And most importantly, when are women going to stop being painted as irresponsible, ignorant, slutty and abusable?

Gggggggggrrrrrrrrrrr

[Bridget Burke]

6. Men get to decide it.

Mostly men who can't get any & resent "those evil sluts" who keep spurning them.

[Gelliebeans]

17. That is exactly my question also!

When is the ok to decide for ourselves when and if we want to have children?
<foot tapping>

It is almost amazing that women have lasted this long on earth without the well intentions of the RW morality police. :sarcasm:


(not to direct my harshness at you WildClarySage, as we are of like minds):hi:

[enlightenment]

14. Reading the article -- and the debate here about the issue

gave me an unpleasant flash-back to the debate over the birth control pill. It sounds sooo similar -- "irresponsible sexual behavior" (women only) and numbing the effect (gee. doubt it), "unable to understand the repercussions of using the drug" (no offense, Sgent, but that's an old, old argument).

I agree that there will always be folks (in this case, women) who are irresponsible. As Ripley pointed out, the same can be said for any number of other substances -- beer, cough syrup, etcetera.
But why is it that we most often leap to protect the minority -- the irresponsible ones -- when it comes to the right of women to control their bodies, their lives, and their choices? What about those 18 year old frat boys dying of alcohol poisoning? Shouldn't we be trying to "legislate" some sort of protection for them -- from their own irresponsibility?

Gads.

[noonwitch]

16. I don't think it should be dispensed without a prescription

This is a woman's health issue, imo, not a choice issue. The morning after pill has some serious side effects-not potential side effects, like most otc meds, but standard ones. If a woman taking this med has been avoiding medical treatment in general, she could have unknown health factors (poor clotting, cervical or uterine problems like PID, etc.) she could be even at a higher risk for complications.

The health center at the college I attended did dispense this medication when I was there for girls who had unprotected sex. They were physicians who performed an exam prior to dispensing the meds. I think that that is the appropriate protocol for this medication.