Focus Says Plan B Decision a 'Disaster' and 'Dangerous'
by Jody Brown and Mary Rettig
August 25, 2006
(AgapePress) - - Focus on the Family, a prominent pro-life, pro-family ministry, is condemning this week's decision by the U.S. government to make the "morning-after" pill available without a prescription to anyone over the age of 18. Easy availability of the "emergency contraception," known as Plan B, will endanger the lives of young women, says a ministry spokesperson. "This decision is a disaster and a danger for girls and their parents." That's the blunt and straightforward assessment from Carrie Gordon Earll, senior analyst for bioethics with the Colorado-based ministry. "There are no safeguards, legal or otherwise, to prevent this powerful drug from falling into the hands of teen girls -- or, worse, into the hands of men bent on sexually exploiting teen girls by flashing a magic pill as a promise that they won't have to worry about getting pregnant."
That has been the argument of several pro-life groups since the possibility of over-the-counter (OTC) access to Plan B was suggested and debated. Earll says regardless of the age requirement, OTC availability of the morning-after pill is "an invitation for adult men to pressure underage girls to have sex with the promise of an easily accessible magic pill to prevent or abort a pregnancy."
President Bush endorsed the idea before it was made official by the FDA's decision -- and the FOTF official says both are to blame for the potential fallout. Earll says it is unrealistic for the president and the FDA to believe that the age restriction will prohibit teens from gaining access to the drug or prevent them from being sexually exploited -- and irresponsible to assume an age limit for OTC access is a "safe and parent-respecting compromise."
"President Bush has a solid track record supporting parent's right," says Earll, "but he's missed the mark with this endorsement."
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The president of Pharmacists for Life International says the FDA's decision is not really surprising news. However, she says some movement behind the scenes could have major implications for pro-life pharmacists.
Karen Brauer says despite Plan B being sold over-the-counter, it will still be placed behind the counter because of the age restrictions. She says that means pharmacists will still be asked for the drug and have to dispense it.
"There are efforts to prevent the pharmacists from having any discretion in this regard," says Brauer. "There's an effort by New York's version of the ACLU to remove the licenses of three pharmacists -- not because they wouldn't dispense Plan B itself but because, in their clinical judgment, they felt that refills were not appropriate use of the drug."
Brauer says that move by the New York ACLU is just one way to remove pharmacists' right to conscientiously object to dispensing Plan B. But the Pharmacists for Life spokeswomen says the FDA decision really changes nothing for pro-life pharmacists. "We'll still have to refuse to dispense this drug, because it is detrimental to the social status of women, and it's also detrimental to their health," she explains. "And also, it operates significantly to stop the life of an early human."
Brauer says the FDA's move was largely a symbolic political gesture made to legitimize use of the drug, rather than give women better healthcare. Regardless of what action happens regarding Plan B, she says her organization will still fight for the unborn.
