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Re: OTC BCP's?From: D. Ashley Hill, MD (anonymous@obgyn.net)Fri, 30 Jun 2000 16:26:11 -0500 (CDT)
Regarding OTC OCPs: I have mixed feelings about this. I believe that a fundamental problem with our society is a lack of personal accountability. Rather than educate ourselves about the risk/benefit profiles that occur for life's various activities, many would prefer that the government legislate common sense and safety. Consumers should read the label, know their medical history, get Pap smears annually, drive safely, and wear their seatbelts. We should not need the government to force us to do this, or force women to go to a doctor to get an Rx for birth control. However....most readers here would be shocked to learn how misinformed about even basic biology and unconcerned about their health many patients are. I see patients on a weekly basis with giant scars from prior surgery, but they cannot tell me when they had the surgery, who did it, why it was done, and what procedure was done! I see well-educated patients who are flabbergasted when I teach them that there are "3 holes down there" and they do not urinate from their vagina. Patients who are unconcerned about their health report that they would "never" come in for a breast and ovary exam and Pap smear if they were not required to do so in order to get an Rx for birth control. Again, women should be concerned enough about their health go get Pap smears and exams, but many would not ever come in if they could get OTC birth control pills. Since there are *very few* women who cannot safely take OCPs, and since, for example, those over 35 who smoke heavily should be responsible enough to not take them, I don't see why OCPs should necessarily be prescription only. However, the number of lawsuits against OCP manufacturers will skyrocket as thousands of women over the age of 35 who smoke 5 packs a day purchase OCPs. Currently doctors prevent this from happening, but we all know many heavy smokers will ignore the warning labels and buy them, yet turn around and sue the manufacturer when they develop a blood clot or stroke. Thus, we have safety, personal responsibility, and medical liability as the three most important factors surrounding OTC birth control pills. Until we resolve these issues it will be difficult to provide OTC birth control pills.
-- David Ashley Hill, MD Associate Director Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Florida Hospital Family Practice Residency http://home.mpinet.net/dahmd
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