COMMENTARY | There is never a dull moment within our government and the latest controversy is over the Department of Health and Human Services stopping the Federal Drug Administration from distributing the Plan B contraceptive. Birth control and abortion are already hotly debated topics, and when top officials start enforcing rules, things get sticky.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled the FDA’s decision to put Plan B contraceptive over the counter in the condom aisle and even available to minors under 17. The FDA usually has the say in these cases when they deem a medication safe for use, but in this case, more is at stake than just medical safety, leading to the HHS stepping in.
Should it be allowed?
Absolutely not! I agree with President Obama that it is common sense to keep this pill out of the reach of minors. There are two reasons why putting it on the shelf could actually do more harm than good. First, it provides a safety net for those that are sexually active. Kids and adults need to know the extreme consequences of their actions, and when they do, they are more proactive in preventing it. Now, it is not going to stop pregnancies, but it will make more people accountable for their actions.
Secondly, it would allow kids to purchase this pill without anyone knowing. I think it is important that parents know what their kids are up to and to talk to them accordingly. Minors are not allowed to make legal decisions for themselves, so why should Plan B be an exception? Plan B is not preventative contraceptive; it is emergency contraceptive when a pregnancy could be in the beginning stages of fertilization. It will also make those minors that are afraid of disappointing their parents think twice before they engage in dangerous behavior.
Slippery Slope
The slippery slope rule also comes into effect here. When more people are less responsible for their behavior because they can do away with the consequences, then it produces a society that doesn’t try to prevent wrong behavior. Instead they indulge themselves knowing there will be a solution. Putting these pills over the counter will also lead to more STDs. With more people unafraid of the consequences, an increase in sexual activity will most likely follow.
I believe that the HHS had every right to go over the FDA’s decision because it is not just a decision based on science. For the FDA it is, but the HHS takes in social effects, behaviors, and consequences. Just because something will not physically impair you doesn’t mean you should do it.