The government has been ordered by a US federal judge to allow girls of all ages to purchase the ‘morning after’ pill.
Judge Edward Korman spoke against the FDA’s (Food and Drug Administration) rule that requires girls younger than 16 to have a prescription in order to purchase the ‘morning after’ pill. He said that the restriction imposed by the FDA was “arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable.”
The case, brought by the Center for Reproductive Rights, contended that there was no evidence or proof that girls under the age of 17 could not use the drug safely.
Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services Secretary, overruled the FDA’s statement from 2011 saying they decided that the pill could be used safely by girls of childbearing age. She said that the Administration lacked the evidence to determine the removal of over-the-counter constraints.
In Judge Korman’s ruling, he spoke out against the Obama’s administration’s defense, saying it is “an excuse to deprive the overwhelming majority of women of their rights to obtain contraceptives without unjustified and burdensome restrictions.”
Nancy Northup, spokeswoman for The Center for Reproductive Rights, told Reuters “women all over the country will no longer face arbitrary delays and barriers just to get emergency contraception.”
One of the Department of Justice’s lawyers, F. Franklin Amanat, spoke to the Associated Press saying, “We are reviewing the decision and evaluating the government’s options.”
Judge Korman’s Ruling can be seen online at : https://www.nyed.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions/Order%20on%20Motion%20to%20Intervene.pdf
What do you think about the lift of the age limit restriction? Let us know below.
Have A Question? Ask Jessica!
-
Jessica: Hi, I'm Jessica, the Consumer Press AI, can I help you with a consumer question?
