FEMINISTS ARRESTED AT FDA

FEMINISTS ARRESTED AT FDA!

For pictures of our FDA protest, visit http://homepage.mac.com/brandonschulman/PhotoAlbum12.html

9 Arrested Protesting Morning-After Pill Plan: Women Call for Contraceptive to Be Made Available Over the Counter

By Marc Kaufman

Washington Post Staff Writer

Saturday, January 8, 2005; Page A03

Nine women protesting the Food and Drug Administration's position on

the emergency contraceptive Plan B were arrested yesterday when they

blocked entry to the agency's Rockville headquarters.

The women, part of a noisy protest in favor of making the morning-

after pill available without a prescription, were taken away by

officers of the Department of Homeland Security and charged with

disorderly conduct.

The protesters said they wanted to speak with Steven Galson, acting

director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, who

in May rejected an application to allow Plan B to be sold over the

counter. FDA staff reviewers and an advisory panel of outside

experts had strongly recommended approval, saying the emergency

contraceptive could be safely sold without a prescription.

Yesterday's protest came as the agency is preparing to rule later

this month on a second application by Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. to

make Plan B more easily accessible. That proposal would allow the

drug to be sold to females older than 16 without a prescription but

would require a doctor's order for those younger.

One of the protest organizers, Alex Leader from New York, said the

demonstrators opposed any age restrictions and are concerned that

the agency will not approve the new application at all.

"We don't trust the FDA at this point," Leader said. "The Bush

administration is playing to its social conservatives by not

approving Plan B, even though the experts say it's safe. Women need

this drug available now."

FDA officials said Galson was not available to meet the women but

that acting Deputy Commissioner Janet Woodcock would be willing to

see five of the demonstrators. They rejected the offer.

About 40 protesters, mostly from Florida and New York, took part in

the demonstration. Three representatives of Concerned Women for

America, which opposes easier access to Plan B, were also present.

Wendy Wright, policy director for the group, said she hopes

that "the FDA won't base its decision on stunts like this." She said

allowing nonprescription sales "would be simply disastrous."

"You could have a 40-year-old man who is committing statutory rape

on a 14-year-old simply going in and picking up Plan B himself. An

age limit won't stop anyone."

The Bush administration has been cool to the expanded use of

emergency contraception, which some conservatives see as a form of

abortion. This week, the Justice Department issued guidelines for

treating rape victims that make no mention of emergency

contraception, leading to criticism from women's health groups and

others that a standard precaution for rape victims was being

ignored. A department spokesman said the new guidelines do

not "supersede the many state, local and tribal protocols that are

currently in practice."

Kelly Mangan, a National Organization for Women activist from

Florida who was among those arrested, said the group has pledges

from 2,000 other women to break the law by sharing their

prescription-purchased Plan B with women who need it but have no

prescription.

Studies have shown that emergency contraception works for about 72

hours after unprotected sex but is best used within 24 hours. The

need for speed is a key argument made by advocates of easier access.

Also yesterday, the American College of Obstetricians and

Gynecologists called on the FDA to approve the new application.

"ACOG and other organizations have estimated that greater access to

emergency contraceptives could cut the U.S. unintended pregnancy and

abortion rates in half," the group said in a statement.