WASHINGTON, December 17, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Despite the myriad of press reports seemingly indicating that the FDA decision on granting the abortifacient morning after pill over-the-counter (OTC) status is a done deal, LifeSite has learned that the final decision is still months away.
Yesterday, two advisory panels of the FDA jointly heard arguments for and against granting OTC status for the drugs. The panels recommended approving over-the-counter status by a 23-4 vote. However, FDA spokesman Lenore Geld told LifeSite that the final decision has not been made and that there is no deadline for the decision to be made. However, she suggested that it would likely be made in “a matter of months”. Of note, some of the panelists suggested informing women of the fact that the drug can cause early abortions. See related LifeSite coverage: Politicians, Faith & Family Groups and Health Professionals Condemn Over the Counter Abortifacient http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2003/dec/03121601.html