The NY Times reports that a Federal Judge ruled today that the FDA must relax restrictions on the morning-after pill and offer it to girls as young as 17 without a prescription. However, it does still have to be offered behind pharmacy counters. While I agree that the behind-counter measure provides some sort of protection against young girls using this as their primary birth control method without any counseling from doctors or parents, I think it also serves to intimidate, especially in small towns. Hopefully the FDA will fully relax the restrictions and allow it to be sold without behind-counter measures.
That said, the fact that it is so readily available and to girls so young means that there needs to be way more public awareness and education about using it as an emergency measure, not a primary line of defense against unplanned pregnancy. I’d also worry about girls who have been assaulted. If their only concern is pregnancy and it is alleviated here, will this reduce the number of girls reporting their assaults and seeking examination? The whole thing concerns me, even though the feminist in me understands the reasoning behind it and supports that. Still, education is key.
