A 13 year old girl has accused a 19 year old man of raping her, and then providing her with a "morning after" pill the next day.
Should anyone be surprised? Many of those who criticized the FDA's over the counter scheme for Plan B warned about this possibility. In fact, I warned about this possibility in an August 2006 press release:
Over the counter access to emergency contraception will make minors more vulnerable to sexual abuse. Easy access to Plan B will allow sexual predators to cover up their crimes by making a simple trip to the pharmacy.
Why didn't the powers that be at the FDA consider this possibility? And if they did, why did they conclude that it was an acceptable risk?
I'll say it again: The decision by the FDA to make the morning after pill over the counter for those 18 and over was irresponsible. Not requiring a prescription for emergency contraception gave predators a tool to cover their tracks - and young girls are paying the price.
I don't understand... the victim is not further harmed by not conceiving a child from rape. Are you arguing that girls should get unwanted pregnancies as a result of rape in order to better implicate the perpetrator? Or are you arguing they should conceive, test the DNA of the fetus to help identify the perp, and then abort the fetus? If so, that sounds worse for the victim.
idyllicmollusk, we're distressed by the attitude that the Plan B somehow erases the rape, that the only harm done to a victim of rape, statutory rape, spousal abuse, etc., is if she gets pregnant and carries to term. As long as there is successful contraception or abortion, it sets everything right. Even if the contraception or abortion is at the behest of the abuser/rapist and not the victim. The live baby is the greatest harm, and as long as that's avoided, it's as if all is well.
Meanwhile this attitude -- that the prevention of the birth of a live child should be our focus -- means that perpetrators get the cooperation of Pill pushers in their abuse. After all, if she doesn't end up being the mother of a live baby, no harm, no foul, right?
hmm... i can see both sides of the argument but this situation is sad whatever man would rape a girl knowing he could get er pregnent then give her a morning after pill which kills any conceived zygote... is a sick man goign around making babbies and killing them is what hat should be called, but i can see that the victim shouldnt have to be responsible for a child they coneived in a rape, anyways men that do this need very strong prison sentances i belive a crime like that is indescribable, and especially with puttuing the victim through that
oops lol sorry for the mispellings er= her goign= going puttuing=putting
also that is very distressing, i agree christina, aborting a conceived child even if it wasnt consentual dosent erase a rape.... and like i said before it is sick that a man would do that it may sound cheesy but i dont care ill say it hahaha GRrrrrrrrrr that makes me so mad im not gonna say what i wish to be done to men like that... but overall again like i said they need very strong prison sentances i beleive, ok thats all
Thanks for the thoughtful answer, Christina.
I guess I have lived in different communities than you. People around me (though perhaps not always the authorities) take rape VERY seriously. So I have never encountered this situation you describe: the attitude that the only harm a rape does is create unwanted pregnancy. Most, if not all, the people I know would disagree with such a statement.
I still don't understand how E.C. worsens a rape victim's life. As far as the data available goes, 0% of rapes occurred because the rapist heard about E.C. In some cases, rape victims are very glad to have E.C. available, and make their own choice to take it, as it prevents a pregnancy resulting from their trauma.
Of course, a woman should never be coerced to do anything against her will, whether it is coerced sex, coerced abortion, or coerced pregnancy. On this point I think we agree.
we're distressed by the attitude that the Plan B somehow erases the rape
The man was arrested and charged with rape. Where are you getting this delusional idea that EC erases rape?
After all, if she doesn't end up being the mother of a live baby, no harm, no foul, right?
How many thirteen-year-old girls do you know who want to become "mothers of live babies" with rapists? That is insanity.