The FDA and "Plan B"

A federal judge has ordered the FDA to let 17 year old's obtain "Plan B" .

"Plan B" is the back up birth control pill that can be obtained without prescription through your pharmacy in the event that you suspect your regular birth control has failed. You have up to 3 days after the "failure" to take the pill. It is essentially a high dose of birth control drug that either interferes with ovulation or does not allow the implantation of the fertilized egg.

Folks at the conservative family research council say that this is very similar to abortion and furthermore fear that abused women will be coerced, or forced to take the pill.

The decision on "Plan B" caused quite a commotion in 2005, causing Susan Wood, the top FDA official for women's health to resign from the FDA over the matter.

It was rumoured at the time that even the Bush White House was involved in the decision.


This issue does usually cause quite a debate. There were even a group of pharmacists who were refusing to sell "Plan B" as it violates their religious beliefs. Did political and ideology factors play a role in the FDA's decision?

Here is the link to the article
Plan B:

Is it abortion? Does the FDA have the right to restrict the sale of this drug? What do you suggest can be done to overcome the concerns of the family research council that abused women may be forced or otherwise coerced into taking the drug?