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The FDA decided last month to put the health of women and girls ahead of commercial profits. Its decision was on solid scientific ground. Predictably, abortion advocates responded hysterically.
Today the American Medical Association joined abortion advocates in clamoring for morning-after pills to be available over-the-counter so that young women and girls will be able to obtain these drugs, whether or not they "need" them, whether or not they might be contraindicated, and do so without even a doctor's oversight.
The president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) told and AMA Committee that "the overwhelming data is that it is safe, effective and usable across age groups." But the drug's manufacturer, Barr Laboratories, admitted to the FDA that there are no studies of the drug's effect on adolescents. In other words, there is no data indicating that it is "safe effective and usable across age groups," despite ACOG's assertion to the contrary.
That a highly regarded medical association such as the AMA would attack the FDA for fulfilling its mandate—to put health interests over commercial interests (Barr is estimated to make $25-$100 million on the drug)—is as sad as it is appalling.
Gail Quinn
Executive Director
USCCB Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities
June 15, 2004