'Plan B' pill to be sold OTC to girls of all ages

Judge Edward R. Korman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York made a controversial ruling this morning (April 5, 2013), regarding contraceptive rights for women and girls of all ages. The morning-after-pill, sold as 'Plan B' will become readily available over-the-counter (OTC) without a minimum purchasing age within the next 30 days! There will be no point-of-sale restrictions for purchases of this pregnancy prevention medication.This reverses a prior ruling by the FDA and HHS, which apparently ruled otherwise surprisingly.

Women should never be kept away from their contraceptive rights, regardless of age or ability to get to a doctor. So it's safe to agree with Judge Korman over this ruling. Nonetheless, it's also easy to understand the oncoming backlash that will resort from this. Far right voters and anti birth control lobbyists will be up in arms about this one, no doubt.

Two years ago the Obama Administration backed the HHH ruling that nobody under the age of 17 could obtain emergency contraceptives without a prescription. This obviously contradicts the democratic stance on women's contraceptive rights and the availability of proper sex education and protection for young women who are of school age as well. Making 'Plan B' available to all age groups now makes it easier for young ladies to take control of their reproductive rights without having to be forced to invite their parents and doctors into their sex lives -- which they will likely have regardless of the morals they are taught.

Availability of emergency contraceptives for girls of all ages, over the counter, will likely help in decreasing the teenage pregnancy rate on a nationwide level -- and will give girls the ability to prevent pregnancies in cases of rapes or molestation when they'd otherwise be unable to for fear of having to get "involved with the system." So, indeed, this is an excellent court decision even if it will prove controversial.