Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, March 24, 2009
Sex Judge Rips FDA Over Plan B Restrictions
Posted by Dan Savage on Tue, Mar 24, 2009 at 9:06 AM
NYT:
A federal judge ordered the Food and Drug Administration on Monday to make the Plan B morning-after birth control pill available without prescription to women as young as 17. The judge ruled that the agency had improperly bowed to political pressure from the Bush administration in 2006 when it set 18 as the age limit.The agency has 30 days to comply with the order, in which the judge also urged the agency to consider removing all restrictions on over-the-counter sales of Plan B. The drug consists of two pills that prevent conception if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse.
Conservative groups have "voiced concern" about making the morning-after pill available to women under the age of 18—right now Bush-era regulations require that Plan B be kept behind the pharmacist's counter—because the move will "promote promiscuity." What really concerns them, however, is the idea that teenage girls might have sex and escape the consequences of an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy. Conservatives never seem too terribly concerned that abortion is of the potential consequences of an unwanted pregnancy. And they're not so concerned about boys escaping the consequences of sex:
Not until 2006 did the F.D.A. rule, saying that the drug could be sold without a prescription only to women over 18. In order to enforce the age restriction, the agency also ordered that Plan B be stocked behind pharmacy counters, in contrast to other over-the-counter contraceptives like condoms.
1
I don't know about Seattle, but there isn't one pharmacy anywhere near me that has condoms 'over the counter' ; they're always in locked cases.
2
The control freak fundies will never admit the possibility that the only consequence of sex between unmarried people is intense pleasure.
4
Wouldn't it be more prudent to lower the age to match each states age of consent? Why 17, is it supposed to be the average age of consent?
6
@1 Yeah, it must be your region. I have never encountered condoms behind a lock since I briefly lived on the east coast. Even then, it was only one or two stores that locked 'em up. In Seattle, you're free to paw through the boxes.
7
@4: the age of consent in WA is 16, just so long as your partner is no more than 5 years older than you. It would make more sense to have Plan B available to anyone within the legal age.
And yeah, #1... condoms aren't very "over the counter" in a lot of stores these days. Same for pregnancy tests. But I guess that depends on your neighborhood. I live in White Center... definitly locked up in White Center. Maybe not so much in Ballard.
And yeah, #1... condoms aren't very "over the counter" in a lot of stores these days. Same for pregnancy tests. But I guess that depends on your neighborhood. I live in White Center... definitly locked up in White Center. Maybe not so much in Ballard.
8
#1, where the hell do you live? In Seattle, every pharmacy has about a quarter of an isle dedicated to condoms in a staggering variety. Grocery stores too.
Other than anxty teenagers, nobody bats an eye about condoms here.
Other than anxty teenagers, nobody bats an eye about condoms here.
9
Condoms are most definitely stocked openly here. Plan B, on the other hand, remains unavailable without a prescription, so this decision won't really have much of an effect.
10
Even if you were allowed to keep Plan B in the aisles with condoms, I doubt stores would. That stuff costs about five times as much as a box of condoms.
11
Dear sweet Loveschild, All the saints and apostles, bless your heart...wait WHAT!?!
Another rotten wall erected by the son of a Bush has been tumbled.
Dear sweet Loveschild, All the saints and apostles, bless your heart...wait WHAT!?!
13
I'm gearing up for your Mayoral campaign Dan. I've created a nice flyer to staple around town. It has a photo of you off Google and tear offs on the bottom with tinyurl links to some of your best stuff.
I need to know Dan--what color will be the theme of your campaign so I can use that for the flyers?
I need to know Dan--what color will be the theme of your campaign so I can use that for the flyers?
14
Great news. Now if we can just get cold medicine taken off the "requires permission from Daddy Government" list.
16
No, it's because when my head is clogged with snot, I just want to get some damn pseudoephedrine without having to first beg a minimum-wage high school student to let me sign the book, show my license, and *then* give them money for my lawfully-purchased medicine. And don't tell me the stuff that's still on the shelves is a reasonable replacement for the real medication, because it's pretty accepted that it doesn't really work.
The whole "One student who misbehaved on the monkey bars means nobody can use the monkey bars at recess" thing got old in 1st grade, and it's galling to have a government based on that principle forcing me to be even more miserable just because I get a stinking headcold.
That's why.
The whole "One student who misbehaved on the monkey bars means nobody can use the monkey bars at recess" thing got old in 1st grade, and it's galling to have a government based on that principle forcing me to be even more miserable just because I get a stinking headcold.
That's why.
19
I'm in Sweden--I can get Plan B over the counter here, but I need a prescription if I want asprin. Or Tylenol.
I'm not sure if you should be jealous of me or not.
I'm not sure if you should be jealous of me or not.
21
Would somebody explain to these "concerned" conservatives that "promoting promiscuity" is not by any stretch of the imagination criminal? It is not illegal to have sex, therefore it is not illegal to encourage people to have sex, even if you encourage them to have lots of it. If they can point to the law that sets a limit on how much sex people can legally have, they can try to make their case for criminal incitement for things that "promote" having more than that amount.
22
@17 Your hating on Rob is making me uncomfortable. Rob, I think you could clear this up by posting a photo of your dick.
23
What are the consequences of women avoiding contraception, like the pill, and just relying on Plan B after a night of indiscretion?
25
23, It is made clear, repeatedly that Plan B isn't a substitute for a regular birth control method.
26
@23 -- The consequences are irritability and being sick-to-your-stomach. I don't think many women will put themselves through that on a regular basis.
27
@23 If you'd ever taken plan B, you'd know it can make you quite ill, so I wouldn't recommend using it as a regular form of birth control.
28
In Canada you can get codeine with your aspirin over the counter.
Plan B is for emergencies. Talibangelists don't believe they exist (God's Plan to make them preggers so they can get married and divorce early), but they use Plan B a LOT.
Plan B is for emergencies. Talibangelists don't believe they exist (God's Plan to make them preggers so they can get married and divorce early), but they use Plan B a LOT.
30
@1: idunno about the stores in your area but at the store where i work we had to lock up the condoms because they were the one item stolen most often.
31
Oh Dan! Ohhhhhh Dan! I am so excited about your mayoral campaign. I've been combing the Slog archives for your best writings. I want the citizens of Seattle to know the real Dan Savage. Compassionate, thoughtful, empathetic, generous, OH Dan!!! I can hardly wait for the campaign to begin. I'll be there for you Dan. I'll be there for you every day promoting your past musings on matters large and small to the citizens of Seattle.
Must I report my expenditures to your campaign if we don't collude on the message?
Must I report my expenditures to your campaign if we don't collude on the message?
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