FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2006

Contact: Peggy Hamill, State Director, (414) 416-0489 or info@prolifewisconsin.org.
or Marc Tuttle, Communications Director, (262) 796-1111, cell: (262) 408-0506.

FDA agrees to negotiate deal on ‘Plan B’
Pro-Life Wisconsinites contact White House over FDA’s latest move

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Monday that it has agreed to meet immediately with a subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals to discuss a framework for moving toward over-the-counter sales of the morning-after pill. Pro-Life Wisconsin is urging members to contact the White House and the acting FDA commissioner to voice their strong opposition to selling “Plan B” over-the-counter.

“We’re urging concerned pro-lifers across Wisconsin to call the White House and the FDA to tell them not to jeopardize human life in this way. ‘Plan B’ is known to work as an abortifacient. By blocking implantation of a newly conceived embryo, the morning-after pill can cause an early chemical abortion,” said Peggy Hamill, State Director of Pro-Life Wisconsin. “Not only is it often a lethal drug for embryonic children, but by providing ‘Plan B’ over-the-counter the FDA is giving men a new weapon to hide their sexual exploitation of vulnerable girls. It would be way too easy for a sexual predator to force his victim to take this drug or slip it to her unknowingly if it were made available over-the-counter,” added Hamill.

Liberal distribution of the morning-after pill is likely to suppress the reporting of sexual assault. The false sense of security the morning-after pill provides following a sexual assault may discourage victims from accessing critical emergency care.

“There are more angles to look at than just ‘the scientific facts,’” said Hamill. “The social implications of this decision could be staggering. Increased promiscuity, teen pregnancy, STD rates and surgical abortion have all been documented in countries where ‘emergency contraception’ is available over-the-counter. The FDA has an obligation to protect its citizens from harmful drugs such as ‘Plan B.’”

Pro-Life Wisconsin is including an “Action Alert” in its weekly e-newsletter, The Monday Update, urging recipients to call both the White House and the office of acting FDA Commissioner, Dr. Andrew Von Eschenbach. In addition, Pro-Life Wisconsin is working with their parent organization, American Life League, to educate the nation about abortifacient birth control drugs such as ‘Plan B.’ Pro-Life Wisconsin will continue to educate the citizens of Wisconsin about the dangers of the morning-after pill regardless of the FDA’s eventual decision.

Pro-Life Wisconsin is the primary voice in our state opposing the morning-after pill and other forms of abortifacient birth control. For more information about Pro-Life Wisconsin or their educational efforts in opposition to Plan B, please contact Marc Tuttle, Communications Director, (262) 796-1111.

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