Plan B Synthesis

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should make exceptions to the standard drug approval process, under certain situations. The issues surrounding the approval of the Plan B contraceptive would be one of these situations. This case really brings to light the real world ethical dilemmas surrounding possible complications with new over-the-counter medications. Both sides of the argument in this case (whether to allow the Plan B contraceptive to be available over-the-counter or not) make valid points. However, the FDA was right to delay the transition approval and ask for age regulations if the drug in question were to be placed in the OTC market. As some people quoted in the case study said, the transition approval of Plan B from prescription

Pain killers, such as acetaminophen, while very useful and commonly use do present a health issue to the public. As noted through news stories, television shows, and maybe even through our own families, acetaminophen can become quite addictive. While only having such medications available through prescription only, which could cause public outcry, it is done so for safety. People of any age who take these medication could fall under the abuse habit and become addicted to the drug(s). Acetaminophen, and similar drugs, could tip the benefit-risk assessment in the negative direction. Having commonly used medications such as acetaminophen, only available through a prescription would be more of a hassle (when compared to a OTC version) and would upset several people, but again it is done this way for safety of the overall

A person’s mind naturally develops with age (passage of time). As stated previously and supported by Dr. Klaus’ quote above, the over-the-counter presence of Plan B emergency contraceptive could influence younger female teens to engage in riskier sexual behavior, because of the notion of “it’s okay, I have Plan B so I can do whatever I want…” On another note, emergency contraception is not the same as regular contraception. Let’s take a male condom for instance. While use of it requires the male partner’s willingness, it is a more preventative form of contraception, as opposed to Plan B, a last-ditch attempt to fix something that did not go your way (i.e. unintended pregnancy). Due to its more “preventative” nature, regular contraceptives, such as male/female condoms, should continue to be available to people without a prescription. Barring rape or sexual assault (or any other situation with possible pregnancy in which the female in question had no control over or a pregnancy filled with health risks) any form of emergency contraception should not be available. Clinics should be set around cities to allow women to obtain emergency contraception prescriptions after “normal” business hours when the aforementioned situations occur. Even if something like this is not a permanent solution, it would be a compromise for both sides