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ACOG Sends Letter to PhysiciansFrom: Marilyn Ringst (marilyncnm@hotmail.com)Mon Mar 4 12:52:44 2002
>From kff.org: ACOG Sends Letter to Physicians Urging Them to Prescribe Advance Doses of EC to Patients The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has launched an "unprecedented" campaign to expand access to emergency contraception, the Wall Street Journal reports. ACOG has sent a letter to its 40,000 member physicians urging them to give patients advance prescriptions for EC in case of "emergencies." The mailing also includes a separate sample letter for physicians to use to "lobby local pharmacies" to stock EC, which can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse. Many pharmacies do not regularly keep EC in stock due to the "low demand" for the pills. Although 50% of U.S. women between the ages of 15 and 44 have had an unintended pregnancy, only 2% of women in this age group have ever used EC, according to Princeton University's Office of Population Research. Women's Capital Corp. hopes to apply to the FDA this summer to obtain over-the-counter status for its Plan B brand of EC (Parker-Pope, Wall Street Journal, 3/1). Columnist Says FDA Should Grant OTC Status to EC "It is time for the FDA to add" EC to the list of drugs that can be dispensed over the counter, but "abortion politics" are hampering the change, Robyn Blumner writes in a St. Petersburg Times column. Blumner states that ACOG and more than 75 health and public policy organizations support giving OTC status to EC, and the "hurdles" that typically prevent drugs from being converted to OTC status are not present with EC because the pills are not complicated to use and are "safe for almost every woman." However, abortion politics are "getting in the way" of making EC an OTC drug because some antiabortion opponents argue that the pills are a form of abortion, Blumner says. The FDA has asked for information about EC that "go[es] well beyond the typical application" for OTC status, Blumner states. She writes that the FDA is asking Women's Capital Corp. in its OTC application for Plan B to provide long-term studies regarding whether women would change their contraceptive habits, stop using oral contraceptives or "eschew condoms" based on the availability of EC. "These extra data requests are insulting. ... The proper inquisition is whether the remedy is safe and effective. End of story," Blumner states. She concludes, "Any adverse changes some women might make in contraceptive use will be more than offset by the benefits of millions of unwanted pregnancies averted. ... Federal regulations say the [FDA] has the authority to approve OTC status for EC without a company request. The time to do so is now" (Blumner, St. Petersburg Times, 2/24).
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