Dear Colleague,

On May 6, the United States Food and Drug Administration narrowly averted
a public health disaster by not approving the so-called "morning after
pill" (also known as "emergency contraception") for over-the-counter use
without age restriction.  But the battle is not over yet.  Barr
Laboratories, which has invested tens of millions of dollars into these
drugs, and is salivating for future profits, will be back
 
Steven W. Mosher


PRI Weekly Briefing
07 May 2004
Vol. 6 / No. 18

 
One Cheer for the FDA
 
On May 6, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified Barr
Laboratories that it would not approve the so-called Morning After Pill
without a prescription.  Making this powerful abortifacient contraceptive
as easily available as aspirin would have been a public health disaster.
We applaud the FDA for this decision that respects women's and children's
health and well-being.
 
MAP pills contain a megadose of the same hormones found in ordinary birth
control pills. It works by preventing the implantation of a human embryo,
thus causing an eaarly-term abortion.  The claims of Planned Parenthood
and others that it is not abortifacient reveals an ignorance of human
reproduction that is mind-boggling-and self-serving.
 
While the May 6 ruling means that girls and women will have the protection
of a medical exam before being exposed to this dangerous drug.  (The claim
of some that pharmacists can safety prescribe MAP confuses the roles of
pharmacist and doctor, and strips away this health protection.)
 
But Barr Laboratories will be back.  They have been asked by the FDA to
provide information showing that MAP can be safely used on girls 16 years
and under.  Or, alternatively, to come up with a prescription-only
procedure for younger girls, while selling them like cigarettes or alcohol
only to older girls and women.
 
But the MAP should come with a warning label:  Unsafe at any age.  And it
should not be pushed over-the-counter on unsuspecting girls.
 
To learn more about how OTC/MAP means danger for American girls, click
here
http://www.pop.org/main.cfm?id=215&r1=2.00&r2=2.00&r3=0.05&r4=0.00&level=3&eid=563

 
 
To learn more how dangerous MAP Ads Threaten Public Health, click here
http://www.pop.org/main.cfm?id=215&r1=2.00&r2=2.00&r3=0.05&r4=0.00&level=3&eid=558

 
 
For more information on the Morning-After Pill and Abortion, click here
http://www.pop.org/main.cfm?id=215&r1=2.00&r2=2.00&r3=0.05&r4=0.00&level=3&eid=553

 
 
For more information on the medical dangers of the Morning-After Pill
http://www.pop.org/main.cfm?id=215&r1=2.00&r2=2.00&r3=0.05&r4=0.00&level=3&eid=550

 
 
For our full investigative report, click here
http://www.pop.org/main.cfm?EID=552
 
 
 © 2004 Population Research Institute. Permission to reprint granted.
Redistribute widely. Credit required.
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