Press Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15th, 2006

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


Lawsuit against the FDA is part of Attorney General’s ideological crusade

Earlier this morning, NARAL: Pro-Choice Wisconsin and Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager announced that the state of Wisconsin has petitioned to be added as a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed against the FDA. The lawsuit alleges that citizens of our state suffered harm after the FDA postponed decision on whether Plan B, the so-called “emergency contraception” pill, should be available over-the-counter or continue to be dispensed only with the supervision of a physician.

“It’s outrageous that Attorney General Lautenschlager is using our tax dollars to join a lawsuit that a large portion of the citizens of our state find reprehensible,” said Peggy Hamill, State Director of Pro-Life Wisconsin. “When she does things like this she is not representing the people of Wisconsin, she is representing her own narrow ideological crusade. The pro-life citizens of Wisconsin do not want these abortifacient drugs available over-the-counter.”

According to Barr Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Plan B, one of three active mechanisms of the drug is to prevent a newly formed embryo from implanting. The Attorney General, NARAL and other organizations who do not care about embryonic human life claim this does not harm an existing pregnancy because they have re-defined pregnancy as beginning at implantation. It is scientifically indisputable, however, that Plan B can act to harm or destroy an existing embryo.

“Plan B is a high dose of the powerful hormones found in birth control pills, patches and other devices. These hormones are taken by perfectly healthy women and can lead to nausea, blood clotting and other adverse effects,” said Hamill. “The FDA has every reason not to allow these drugs to be passed out like candy.”

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