nhboy
Ubi bene ibi patria
Link to original article.
"The “morning after” pill can be made available to women of all ages and without a prescription, a federal judge ruled yesterday, dealing a blow to U.S. restrictions on access to the contraceptive.
U.S. District Judge Edward Korman in Brooklyn, New York, excoriated the Food and Drug Administration for what he called a 12-year delay in making the emergency contraceptive, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA)’s Plan B, available over-the- counter. While acknowledging opponent contentions that increased access to contraception may encourage sexual conduct by minors, Korman said the case isn’t about “the potential misuse of Plan B by 11-year-olds.”
“These emergency contraceptives would be among the safest drugs sold over-the-counter, the number of 11-year-olds using these drugs is likely to be minuscule,” Korman wrote. “The invocation of the adverse effect of Plan B on 11-year-olds is an excuse to deprive the overwhelming majority of women of their right to obtain contraceptives without unjustified and burdensome restrictions.”
Korman, 70, ordered the FDA make the drug available without limits in 30 days. His ruling followed a reproductive rights group’s request to reopen a lawsuit over access to the contraceptive, claiming the FDA acted in bad faith when it placed restrictions on the drug. "
"The “morning after” pill can be made available to women of all ages and without a prescription, a federal judge ruled yesterday, dealing a blow to U.S. restrictions on access to the contraceptive.
U.S. District Judge Edward Korman in Brooklyn, New York, excoriated the Food and Drug Administration for what he called a 12-year delay in making the emergency contraceptive, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA)’s Plan B, available over-the- counter. While acknowledging opponent contentions that increased access to contraception may encourage sexual conduct by minors, Korman said the case isn’t about “the potential misuse of Plan B by 11-year-olds.”
“These emergency contraceptives would be among the safest drugs sold over-the-counter, the number of 11-year-olds using these drugs is likely to be minuscule,” Korman wrote. “The invocation of the adverse effect of Plan B on 11-year-olds is an excuse to deprive the overwhelming majority of women of their right to obtain contraceptives without unjustified and burdensome restrictions.”
Korman, 70, ordered the FDA make the drug available without limits in 30 days. His ruling followed a reproductive rights group’s request to reopen a lawsuit over access to the contraceptive, claiming the FDA acted in bad faith when it placed restrictions on the drug. "