US FDA Delays Decision On Over-The-Counter Application of Plan B (EC)
This was supposed to be the week that saw the highly publicized decision about the over-the-counter application of the emergency contraception pill (ECP) Plan BŪ finally made. But instead, both advocates and opponents of increased access to ECPs were put on hold as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would need an additional 90 days to review the application.
Pro-choice activists had been preparing for the fact that the FDA might bow to political pressure and overlook the recommendation of the two FDA advisory committees that ECPs be made available over-the-counter. Putting ideology before science, and politics before them both, it seems as though the FDA has done just that by buying itself some more time to deliberate.
ECPs are one of the most effective ways to prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the need for abortion and the science (not to mention two FDA advisory committees) supports that they should be made available over-the-counter.
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