The Battle Over the Plan B Pill Anonymous

The long and tiring battle over the Plan B pregnancy pill has finally been ended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the results are very positive. The FDA recently decided – against much opposition – to allow the over-the-counter sale of the Plan B contraceptive pill to women over the age of 17 years old. Even though I do not agree with the FDA in principle, this decision is important to me because it represents a victory for the people over the government’s control of consumer purchasing decisions.

I was very surprised when this decision was announced, but not when conservative voices attacked the FDA’s decision. The pro-life argument against the free sale of this drug is that the pill basically performs an abortion. Pro-life advocates believe that a baby is alive at conception, even though the FDA has repeatedly stated that the Plan B pill does not work if the fetus has already formed, invalidating the religious argument. Some conservatives agree with the pro-life stance on the issue, but an argument commonly shared by many conservatives is that simplifying purchase of the Plan B pill will encourage more casual sex. I personally do not agree with either of these arguments.

Both the pro-life advocates and the...