From http://www.reuters.ca/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp?type=topNews&localeKey=en_CA&storyID=8243844
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Canada Oks Non-Prescription 'Morning After Pill'
Wed April 20, 2005 5:44 PM GMT-04:00
By Rachelle Younglai
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada has approved the controversial "morning after pill" to be available without a prescription, giving women across the country earlier access to the contraceptive as soon as this week.
But the decision has divided the public, with supporters saying on Wednesday that easier access will reduce the number of abortions, and opponents saying it could promote promiscuity or be used as a regular form of birth control.
On Tuesday, the Canadian government decided the drug levonorgestrel -- marketed by Paladin Labs Inc. under the brand name Plan B -- would be allowed to be dispensed by pharmacists without a prescription.
The pill is 95 percent effective in preventing unintended pregnancy if taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex and is 85 percent effective if taken within 72 hours.
But, because a prescription was originally required, levonorgestrel was not always available within the recommended time period, especially during weekends and holidays.
The news appeared to be welcomed by women in Toronto.
"I'm all for it," 34-year old Andie Mills told Reuters while shopping downtown. "Young girls get into trouble and now they can go and deal with it right away."
Satisha Mangroo, a 15-year-old high school student echoed her sentiment but added: "It all depends on how old the girls are. If they are 18 or over that's OK. But, otherwise, they're too young. They should not even be thinking about sex."
Levonorgestrel in a 0.75 mg dose is the only emergency contraceptive approved for use in Canada.
The move was backed by a number of professional groups, including the Canadian Pharmacists Association, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Canadian Nurses Association and the Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada.
"Emergency contraception has the potential to significantly reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancy and the number of abortions performed," said Andre Lalonde, executive vice-president with the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada.
The drug acts in a number of ways: by preventing the release of the egg from the ovary, preventing fertilization of the egg or preventing the fertilized egg from attaching to the wall of the uterus.
However, some groups such as Campaign Life Coalition slammed the decision, calling Health Canada irresponsible and said the drug is used to induce abortion.
"It's an abortifacient, so that is our concern, a newly conceived child is going to die and the woman is in serious danger of her health by taking medicine that's extremely strong," said Mary Ellen Douglas, the coalition's national organizer.
Abortion is a permitted medical procedure in Canada without any legal restrictions.
Vyta Senikas, a doctor and an executive with the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, rebuffed claims that the drug induced abortions or that it would be used as a regular method of birth control.
"People seem to have the idea that adolescents are going to run rampant because they have this emergency contraceptive available and that due diligence will not be done. But there are several studies that show repeat offenders don't exist or exist in extremely small portions." she said.
The drug is made by U.S.-based Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. and marketed and distributed by Montreal-based Paladin. One dose costs around C$25 ($20) along with a C$15 to C$25 pharmacist's consultation fee.
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Canada Oks Non-Prescription 'Morning After Pill'
Wed April 20, 2005 5:44 PM GMT-04:00
By Rachelle Younglai
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada has approved the controversial "morning after pill" to be available without a prescription, giving women across the country earlier access to the contraceptive as soon as this week.
But the decision has divided the public, with supporters saying on Wednesday that easier access will reduce the number of abortions, and opponents saying it could promote promiscuity or be used as a regular form of birth control.
On Tuesday, the Canadian government decided the drug levonorgestrel -- marketed by Paladin Labs Inc. under the brand name Plan B -- would be allowed to be dispensed by pharmacists without a prescription.
The pill is 95 percent effective in preventing unintended pregnancy if taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex and is 85 percent effective if taken within 72 hours.
But, because a prescription was originally required, levonorgestrel was not always available within the recommended time period, especially during weekends and holidays.
The news appeared to be welcomed by women in Toronto.
"I'm all for it," 34-year old Andie Mills told Reuters while shopping downtown. "Young girls get into trouble and now they can go and deal with it right away."
Satisha Mangroo, a 15-year-old high school student echoed her sentiment but added: "It all depends on how old the girls are. If they are 18 or over that's OK. But, otherwise, they're too young. They should not even be thinking about sex."
Levonorgestrel in a 0.75 mg dose is the only emergency contraceptive approved for use in Canada.
The move was backed by a number of professional groups, including the Canadian Pharmacists Association, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Canadian Nurses Association and the Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada.
"Emergency contraception has the potential to significantly reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancy and the number of abortions performed," said Andre Lalonde, executive vice-president with the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada.
The drug acts in a number of ways: by preventing the release of the egg from the ovary, preventing fertilization of the egg or preventing the fertilized egg from attaching to the wall of the uterus.
However, some groups such as Campaign Life Coalition slammed the decision, calling Health Canada irresponsible and said the drug is used to induce abortion.
"It's an abortifacient, so that is our concern, a newly conceived child is going to die and the woman is in serious danger of her health by taking medicine that's extremely strong," said Mary Ellen Douglas, the coalition's national organizer.
Abortion is a permitted medical procedure in Canada without any legal restrictions.
Vyta Senikas, a doctor and an executive with the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, rebuffed claims that the drug induced abortions or that it would be used as a regular method of birth control.
"People seem to have the idea that adolescents are going to run rampant because they have this emergency contraceptive available and that due diligence will not be done. But there are several studies that show repeat offenders don't exist or exist in extremely small portions." she said.
The drug is made by U.S.-based Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. and marketed and distributed by Montreal-based Paladin. One dose costs around C$25 ($20) along with a C$15 to C$25 pharmacist's consultation fee.
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