Planned Parenthood cheers ruling; one parent outraged

By Keisha Burns, KTVZ.COM

It's a controversial decision: A federal court on Monday ordered the Food and Drug Administration to allow the Plan B emergency contraceptive pill to be given to girls 17 and older - and they don't even need a prescription.

A federal Judge said the FDA played politics in its decisions over the past few years regarding the contraceptive pill.

For over two years now, the so-called "morning after pill" has been at the center of a raging battle involving science, politics and the FDA.

But Monday marked a change: A judge ordered the FDA to let 17-year-old girls use emergency contraception without a prescription, under the same conditions as Plan B is now available to women over the age of 18.

It's decision that Planned Parenthood Marketing Director Liz Delapour said is good news.

"This court ruling puts women's health ahead of politics," she said. "And it's a strong step forward to do everything that we can to reduce unintended pregnancy, especially those among teens."

But one local parent, Emily Rutherford, told me she is outraged by the change: "I believe if you get pregnant, then it's meant to be. I wouldn't advise the use of the morning-after pill, its murder to me."

Delapour said the US has the highest rate of unintended teen pregnancy among the developed countries in the world, which is why her organization feels change is necessary to reduce that.

"Studies have shown that teenagers using it are using it responsibly," she said. "They are not relying on it as a regular method of birth control, but using it as a back-up, emergency use of healthcare."

The ruling overturns the FDA's denial of a petition by individuals and organizations that support wider distribution and access to emergency contraceptives.

The FDA is reviewing the judge's decision. Women's groups believe it's unlikely the Obama administration will appeal the ruling