Abortion pill banned in the United States?The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved the dispensing of the contraceptive pill without a doctor's prescription. Specifically, it is the Opill pill that can now be purchased in pharmacies without a doctor's prescription.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops reacted immediately to the news, publishing a press release signed by Bishop Robert E. Barron. The chairman of the Commission on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth denounces in the note that this action by the FDA "goes against responsible medical practice and women's health concerns."
The risks of this decision
Barron noted in the release that there are studies that indicate that the risks of taking the pill far outweigh the benefits. The bishop insisted that there is "strong evidence of the many detrimental risks of hormonal contraceptives to women's health."
The USCCB note harshly concludes, "Allowing this hormonal contraceptive to be dispensed over-the-counter - without physician supervision and against mounting evidence of many harmful side effects - violates the Hippocratic Oath by putting women's health at serious risk."
FDA's point of view
For its part, in the FDA statementThe U.S. government agency believes that "the approval of this progestin-only oral contraceptive pill provides an option for consumers to purchase oral contraceptive medications without a prescription in pharmacies, convenience stores and supermarkets, as well as online. This decision applies only to the Opill pill, as all other contraceptives are still subject to prescription.
The FDA justifies its approval of this new measure on pregnancy statistics. According to the agency, "nearly half of the 6.1 million pregnancies in the United States each year are unintended." This has negative perinatal and maternal effects, "including reduced likelihood of early prenatal care and increased risk of preterm delivery, with associated adverse neonatal, developmental, and infant health outcomes."
Side effects of contraceptives
At the end of the statement, the FDA lists the various side effects of the Opill pill, including irregular bleeding, dizziness, abdominal pain, cramps and prolonged bleeding.
However, they only advise against its use in very specific cases, such as if the woman has cancer, is pregnant or is already undergoing hormonal contraceptive treatment.
