The recent decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)to postpone a decision on the proposal to switch levonorgestrelemergency contraception (sold under the brand name Plan B) toover-the-counter status suggests that the FDA's decision-makingprocess is being influenced by political considerations. Thedata overwhelmingly demonstrate that emergency contraceptionis safe and effective when available without a prescription.Moreover, the evidence shows that the availability of emergencycontraception does not result in a change in the usual behavioror contraceptive practices of the women who are its potentialusers. A treatment for any other condition, from hangnail to. . . [Full Text of this Article]
Related Letters:
The FDA, Politics, and Plan B
Burstein P. D., Stanford J. B., Hager W. D., Crockett S. A., Drazen J. M., Greene M. F., Wood A. J.J.
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N Engl J Med 2004;
350:2413-2414, Jun 3, 2004.
Correspondence
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