Sometimes things just go right, even with this administration.

Today, well, I’ll just quote from the NY Times Editorial:

“After more than two years of obfuscation and procrastination, the Food and Drug Administration has finally approved nonprescription use of the morning-after contraceptive pills…”

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/25/opinion/25fri2.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fOrganizations%2fF%2fFood%20And%20Drug%20Administration%20

Well, Hallelujah!!

Some common sense for a change on a subject that for me, and my colleagues in health care, was so frustrating. Why? Again I’ll quote the Times Editorial:

“The news is also a reminder of how long the administration has blocked this sensible move simply to placate religious and social conservatives who consider the pills akin to abortion or an inducement to unprotected sex…”

In fact once again the neocons are simply wrong. Scientifically WRONG! They just make up stuff. As the Editorial points out:

“…The morning-after pill, which is actually two pills taken in sequence, is an EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE that can head off a pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of intercourse, or preferably earlier. That makes it IMPERATIVE to have quick access to the pills without waiting for a doctor’s appointment to obtain a prescription.”

As a matter of fact, one ER doc I worked with for several years would, on principal, not see the patient who came in requesting the morning after pill. She would simply write the prescription and the ER discharge all at one time then hand it right off to a nurse to deliver. I asked her once why she did that and she told me, “A woman shouldn’t have to come all the way to an ER,register,pay a copayment,then wait to get a drug she needs that is perfectly safe for her to buy over the counter at her local pharmacy. Men wouldn’t force men to do this.”

So the FDA commissioner was basically forced to give in and do the right thing.

One more from the Editorial that really hits the nail on the head:

“Since virtually all the scientific evidence shows that the pills are safe, no self-respecting F.D.A. commissioner could reject over-the-counter sales without looking foolish and craven.”

Surprisingly President Bush agreed with the decision. Could he have been thinking of his pretty 20-something daughters?