March 27th, 2009

The Philadelphia Inquirer commends a federal judge in New York for telling the FDA to make ‘Plan B’, the emergency contraceptive, availble to 17 year olds without a prescription.

From The Inquirer:

Health over politics

A federal judge deserves applause for ordering the Food and Drug Administration to rethink its politically motivated age restrictions on an emergency contraceptive for women known as “Plan B.”

District Judge Edward R. Korman of New York told the FDA to make Plan B available to 17-year-olds within 30 days, without a prescription.

He also instructed the agency to review whether the contraceptive should be made available to girls of all ages without a doctor’s order. While that decision is more difficult, the judge’s order makes it possible for the agency to base its findings on health considerations, not political interference.

The ruling confirms what women’s health groups and family planning advocates have long contended: the FDA under the Bush administration turned Plan B into a political football. The agency delayed decisions and limited access to the contraceptive due to objections of conservatives in the GOP.

 Read the full editorial from the Inquirer here.