Politics, not science, blocks access to 'morning-after' pill [View All]

[cjbuchanan]

Each year, hundreds of people die from overdoses or adverse reactions to common pain relievers such as aspirin, which any child can buy at the corner drugstore. By contrast, research shows no deaths or serious harm from a contraceptive known as the "morning-after" pill. Even so, dispensing or obtaining it without a doctor's prescription is a crime in 45 states.

Now, two advisory panels of the Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) (FDA) are urging that the contraceptive, marketed as Plan B, be available without a prescription. If taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, the pill prevents 89% of pregnancies, research shows. The panels cite voluminous studies that conclude the drug works and does not pose health risks in other nations where a prescription isn't required.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/usatoday/politicsnotscienceblocksaccesstomorningafterpill

It's time to stop playing politics with aspirin.