Rule on Who Can Buy 'Morning-After' Pill Nixed

UDATE 12:30 p.m., Dec. 7: The Food and Drug Administration recommended on Wednesday that Plan B One-Step, commonly referred to as the "morning-after pill," be made available over the counter without age restrictions, but an Obama administration official overturned that recommendation, according to a story in the Huffington Post.

Huffington Post reports, "After 10 months of reviewing scientific data, FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg decided on Wednesday that emergency contraception should be made available to everyone over the counter.

"There is adequate and reasonable, well-supported, and science-based evidence that Plan B One-Step is safe and effective and should be approved for nonprescription use for all females of child-bearing potential," she said in a statement.

"But in a surprising and unprecedented move, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sent Hamburg a memo on Wednesday invoking her authority to veto the Plan B decision, based on the reasoning that adolescent girls may not have the behavioral maturity to understand how to use the morning after pill.

"The science has confirmed the drug to be safe and effective with appropriate use," Sebelius said in a statement. "However, the switch from prescription to over the counter for this product requires that we have enough evidence to show that those who use this medicine can understand the label and use the product appropriately. I do not believe that Teva’s application met that standard."

When asked earlier on Wednesday, Laguna Niguel residents said for the most part that they would not be happy about the possibility that the tablet could be made available to girls under 17 without a prescription.

The drug's manufacturer wants it on store shelves ASAP and says it is safe. Supporters say it will prevent unwanted pregnancies. On the flip side, opponents say it will encourage unsafe sex and it may not be taken correctly.

Taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, the pill has been shown to be 89 percent effective at safely preventing pregnancy.

"Girls under the age of 17 should not be taking the pill because it could possibly ruin their chance of having a child later in life. If it is illegal to have sex under the age of 18 what's the point making this pill legal to them?" said resident Devin Lari, 20.

"If someone is under the age of 17, then they are still a considered a child. A parent has the right to know if their child is having sex," said local Allison Elizabeth, 19.

"Mistakes happen and if a girl under the age of 17 needs to take the pill, then she should be able to. You never know what kind of relationship a girl has with her parents and it could potentially be very detrimental to a child if her parents find out," added resident Elizabeth Marie, 43.

"It's a scary thought that it has to be the case. Children are becoming more sexually active at a younger age. I support it but it might give teens more of a reason to have unprotected sex since they know it's there," said local Pascal Staeheli, 20.

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