Judge orders Plan B contraceptive be available OTC

[sailor]

http://www.volokh.com/2013/04/05/judge-orders-fda-to-make-plan-b-contraception-available-over-the-counter-without-age-restrictions/

This morning, a federal district court judge overturned the Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to maintain limits on access to Plan B contraception by girls under the age of 17.  As I noted here, the Food and Drug Administration had initially decided to grant a petition urging a removal of the age restrictions but was overruled by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.  Today’s decision overrules the Secretary’s decision on the grounds that it was “arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable,” and the judge accuses HHS of “bad faith” and “intolerable” delays in considering the initial petition that prompted this litigation. The opinion is here and a related order is here.  The opinion’s conclusion summarizes the case as follows:

See link above for link to judges opinion and discussion on how all contraception might be OTC at some relative near point in time.

[Altair]

http://www.volokh.com/2013/04/05/judge-orders-fda-to-make-plan-b-contraception-available-over-the-counter-without-age-restrictions/



See link above for link to judges opinion and discussion on how all contraception might be OTC at some relative near point in time.

Long overdue.

[RandallS]

See link above for link to judges opinion and discussion on how all contraception might be OTC at some relative near point in time.

Long overdue, IMHO.

[SunflowerP]

Long overdue, IMHO.

 
Thirded.

Sunflower

[Rhyshadow]

Thirded.

Sunflower

 
Can we hear the 'Aye's'

AYE!

[MadZealot]

See link above for link to judges opinion and discussion on how all contraception might be OTC at some relative near point in time.

Seems kind of a no-brainer, really.  Better a pill than an abortion imho; that's how more conservative types oughtta be looking at it.

My only concern about 'the pill' going OTC is that-- in my understanding-- it impacts the body's hormones and natural rhythms.  Then again, here's this article published way back in August of 1993 which states "More is known about [the safety of 'the pill'] than about any other drug in the history of medicine," and to my knowledge no adverse effect has been uncovered in the ensuing 20 years.
 
So.  Huh.  Education's a thing.

[Asch]

Seems kind of a no-brainer, really.  Better a pill than an abortion imho; that's how more conservative types oughtta be looking at it.

My only concern about 'the pill' going OTC is that-- in my understanding-- it impacts the body's hormones and natural rhythms.  Then again, here's this article published way back in August of 1993 which states "More is known about [the safety of 'the pill'] than about any other drug in the history of medicine," and to my knowledge no adverse effect has been uncovered in the ensuing 20 years.
 
So.  Huh.  Education's a thing.

I think 'the pill' you and the article are thinking of is oral contraception, which, afaik is still required to be prescribed by a physician. I've taken the 'morning after' pill and it just results in slight cramps and spotting similar to the first days of many women's menstruation cycles. There's no long term effect and in about 2 and a half days I felt fine again. So a couple days of cramps and vague discomfort vs. the agonizing roller coaster of fear, pain, guilt, indecision, and societal busy-bodying of having to face an abortion...hmmm tough call society! NOT.

I'm still pissed this even had to go to a damn judge in the first place.

[RandallS]

Seems kind of a no-brainer, really.  Better a pill than an abortion imho; that's how more conservative types oughtta be looking at it.

Many social/religious conservatives oppose birth control pills as much as they oppose abortion. They also tend to consider Plan B a form of abortion. (Heck, some consider birth control pills a form of abortion.)

[MadZealot]

Many social/religious conservatives oppose birth control pills as much as they oppose abortion.

Which is just goofy.  Even if your beliefs come down on the social conservative side, as some of mine do, the former is easily preferable to the latter for a good many reasons.

[MadZealot]

I think 'the pill' you and the article are thinking of is oral contraception, which, afaik is still required to be prescribed by a physician.

 
Yep.  My comments were in response to what sailor said about other contraceptives, including the pill, possibly becoming OTC in the near future.  Which would be a damn good idea.

[sailor]

I'm still pissed this even had to go to a damn judge in the first place.

 
It was Obama's chosen appointee for HHS that shot the idea down so the petioners had to go to court.

As for the regular pill becoming OTC, that would be waging war against women since it wouldn't be covered under ObamaCare.

[MadZealot]

As for the regular pill becoming OTC, that would be waging war against women since it wouldn't be covered under ObamaCare.

Well I dunno 'bout that.
Both sexes would have the same ease of access to contraception.  
And both would pay out of pocket.  
Looks like gender equality and zero added burden to the taxpayers.  
Win/Win.  
:

[Rhyshadow]

Well I dunno 'bout that.
Both sexes would have the same ease of access to contraception.  
And both would pay out of pocket.  
Looks like gender equality and zero added burden to the taxpayers.  
Win/Win.  
:

 
Except the difference in cost - if contraceptive medicine came down in price to the same as condoms, then yes - it's equal. But right now, the price difference makes it so uneven that coverage under health care is the ONLY option a number of women have.

[MadZealot]

Except the difference in cost - if contraceptive medicine came down in price to the same as condoms, then yes - it's equal. But right now, the price difference makes it so uneven that coverage under health care is the ONLY option a number of women have.

 
Really?  I had no idea the pills were that costly.

[Rhyshadow]

Really?  I had no idea the pills were that costly.

 
Even on a health plan, the wife's cost about $30 a month - without health insurance they're about $120 a month