August 15, 2006

Plan B and the FDA

Bethanie Swendsen is a spokesperson with the Family Research Council in Washington, DC.

According to Swendsen, key senators have said that they will not look to confirm acting FDA Commissioner, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach as FDA Chairman until he moves to have Plan B Emergency Contraception available as an over-the-counter drug.

What is Plan B? Plan B Emergency Contraception is a birth control drug that is 2-5 times stronger than other forms of birth control. Swendsen says we don't have long term studies to know exactly how this drug affects women. Therefore, by making Plan B available over-the-counter, we'd be subjecting women to possible serious health problems while at the same time not being under the supervision of their doctor.

Swendsen believes that by getting FDA over-the-counter approval, the pro-contraception movement can then get the age of availability to drop, perhaps even below 18 years of age.

More Information

Family Research Council
202-393-2100
http://www.frc.org

Action Points

To contact your representatives, the White House, and officials of the Food and Drug Administration with your comments on making the Plan Be abortifacient available over-the-counter:

Capitol Switchboard
202-224-3121

Mike Enzi--Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and the Workforce
202-224-3424

White House
202-456-1111
202-456-1414

Food and Drug Administration
301-827-2410