WASHINGTON, January 17, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) — The US Food and Drug Administration is set to rule on whether the abortifacient morning-after pill can be made available without a prescription this week.
This marks the second such application launched by Plan B’s manufacturer, Barr Laboratories. The FDA denied their first attempt at over-the-counter approval last year, based on the “overwhelming recommendation of the agency’s own scientific advisers,” according to a CNN report.
The FDA said they would reconsider Barr’s request, if the company sells the chemical abortifacient to girls age 16 or older only. Approving Plan B for over-the counter sales “encourages risky sexual activity with the promise ‘just pop a pill in the morning and you don’t need to worry about pregnancy,’” warned Concerned Women of America spokeswoman Wendy Wright.
“What we’re concerned about is a number of young people who are not engaged in sexual activity who feel tremendous pressure, and this will only add to the pressure that is on them,” she said.
Experts argue that making the pills more accessible could lead to teens engaging in activities they might otherwise not do, based on the false sense of security inherent with availability of the pill. The increased availability of the pill also raises concerns over increased exposure to sexually transmitted infection, in turn sparking a significant increase in cancer, infertility, and HIV/AIDS.
Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Scottish Research “Discovers” Morning-After Pill Does Not Reduce Abortion Rate
Pharmaceutical tries again for FDA Approval of Morning After Pill Without Prescription
Morning After Pills Used To Exploit Women And Create Serious Health Risks
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