The Washington Times

    The manufacturer of the "morning-after" pill, along with some women's groups, Democratic lawmakers and medical organizations say the government's decision to allow over-the-counter sales of the drug to those 18 and older is only a partial victory and that they will push for unrestricted access for younger girls as well.

    The 60,000-member American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) called the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) ruling Thursday allowing adults to buy the pill, called Plan B, without a prescription "an important first step" that "only goes halfway."

    "Emergency contraception will remain out of reach for sexually active teens 17 and younger because they will still be required to obtain a prescription for the medication," AAP said.

    The FDA said Barr Pharmaceuticals showed that Plan B is safe and effective when used by women 18 and older, but data on whether the pill is safe in 17-year-olds who are not under doctor's supervision is not definitive. FDA officials said their decision to restrict over-the-counter sales to those 18 and older was largely a "practical" one based on the fact that 18 is commonly associated with maturity.

    A number of Democratic women in Congress, including Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Patty Murray of Washington and Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney and Louise M. Slaughter of New York, have said the FDA needs to re-examine the age restrictions.


This is an example of the problem I have with much of the pro-choice movement, even though I lean pro-choice in many areas.

They are never willing to compromise or agree to any restrictions on abortion or contraceptives, even though we recognize the legitimacy of government regulation of other medical procedures or drugs.

Abortions are a medical procedure. The morning after pill is a contraceptive that is also a drug.

There are many, many, medical procedures or substances that we prevent minors from having without parental consent. Most people, most of the time, recognize the sense of having parental consent for medical treatment. However, as soon as--and only when--that medical treatment is abortion, the concept of "parental consent" goes out the window.