SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 8, 2011/Christian Newswire --
Yesterday, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled a Food and Drug Administration plan to make the Plan B morning-after pill available over-the-counter to girls of any age.
"Thank goodness," said bestselling author Teresa Tomeo. "It's good news that the Department of Health and Human Services said no to the FDA recommendation that the Plan B contraceptive pill be made available to minors over-the-counter."
"I do not believe enough data were presented to support the application to make Plan B One-Step available over-the-counter for all girls of reproductive age," HHS Secretary Sebelius said in discussing her decision. The drug will remain available without a prescription only for girls and women ages 17 and older who show ID to prove their age.
"It's interesting that Kathleen Sebelius can realize the potential danger for younger girls but not for those over 17," Tomeo continued. "The drug contains a higher level of a hormone found in some birth control pills, and it sends the wrong message to older teens who can still go into the local corner drugstore and buy the controversial pill. The entire thought process here defies common sense."
In her new book Extreme Makeover, available now from Ignatius Press, Tomeo reports on the impact of the feminist movement and the media on today's culture. Tomeo talks about ways that women, children and families can make an "extreme makeover" to rid themselves of the messages and toxic images that bombard them daily, and instead embrace the truth about themselves and their dignity.
