US court allows sales of morning-after pills to under-17s without prescription
After a decade-long battle over access to emergency contraception, a federal judge yesterday ordered US regulators to make the morning-after pill available over the counter without limits on age.
After a decade-long battle over access to emergency contraception, a federal judge yesterday ordered US regulators to make the morning-after pill available over the counter without limits on age.
US District Court Judge Edward Korman ruled that a decision in 2011 by the health and human services chief requiring under-17s to obtain a prescription was "politically motivated" and "scientifically unjustified".
The ruling orders the Food and Drug Administration to make emergency contraception available to under-17s without a doctor's prescription.
Emergency contraceptives contain the same active ingredients as birth-control pills but at higher doses, and can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. Experts say it is most effective during the first 24 hours.
US pharmacies had required a prescription for under-17s. Those 17 and over needed to present government-issued identification to purchase emergency contraceptives, available only at pharmacies.
Today, science has finally prevailed over politics. Women all over the country will no longer face arbitrary delays and barriers just to get emergency contraception
The Centre for Reproductive Rights, which brought the lawsuit, hailed the "landmark" ruling as a "victory for women".