Oppose Expansion of the “Morning-After Pill”

Summary

On August 24, 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an application by Barr Laboratories to sell the morning-after pill “Plan B” (so-called “emergency contraception”) without a prescription in pharmacies to persons 18 years of age and older.  Under the ruling, girls 17 and younger continue to need a physician’s prescription to purchase the pills.  On March 23, 2009, a judge in United States District Court ruled that 17 year-olds should also have access to these drugs at the drugstore without a physician prescription.  The FDA agreed, and changed its policy. (In August 2010 the FDA approved another emergency contraceptive known as “ella,” but this is available only by prescription.)

New York State law requires hospitals to offer these drugs to victims of sexual assault.  New legislative proposals are anticipated that would further expand access to the morning-after pill, including one that would make it available to persons of any age without a doctor’s prescription.

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Restricting Payments for Human Eggs Used in Research

Summary

In June 2009 the Empire State Stem Cell Board voted to allow state payments for the ‘donation’ of human eggs to be used specifically for stem cell research.  Payments are to be allowed not only for actual expenses involved, but also for time, burden and discomfort, up to $10,000 per retrieval.  Statutory change is necessary to undo the action of the Stem Cell Board.

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