While I agree the “B” should be readily available, the Secretary’s comment on understanding the warnings with this drug were accurate. Of course very few 40 year-olds can understand the drug labels on OTC products. Just look how many poison themselves every year on Tylenol!
The “trick” as pointed out by the Secretary is, how to HELP those 11-18 year olds who’ve been placed in need. “Health care professional” could include just pharmacists, who understand drug interactions and actions, far better than most M.D.s. The problem is “privacy” and complicated “parent” issues, like those who rape their daughters or stepdaughters, for example?
This is a tough one. Kids should not be taking really powerful drugs indiscriminately. This is not aspirin or Flintstone vitamins. A frightened little girl who has probably just been severely traumatized may not use her best judgement needed to take the medication properly. Because of this, I would tend to agree with Obama. However, when a young girl has been raped by a relative or a step-father, who can she turn to for adult help? Especially if the abuser makes it appear to be her own fault? Many times she cannot even trust her own mother to believe her. Because of this, I tend to disagree with Obama. Situations like this are what Planned Parenthood is for. And the “family values” wingnuts are cutting funding for Planned Parenthood. Obama probably did the right thing, but it IS a tough decision.
ANY powerful drug can have side effects that are potentially dangerous, and not fully understood, especially when they go OTC and folks assume they’re “safe”, or wouldn’t be so available. Kids should have READY access to safe, PRIVATE, advice if they need any medicine to prolong their lives, as children, let alone humans.
Ken M might find some real statistics, that under 10 pregnancies due to rape is probably just in Biloxi, or a single household in “trailer park America”.
If you’re going to throw in numbers re pregnancies due to rape, at least name your source, and be sure it’s neutral. Pub Med has no ax to grind. A study showed a 5% rate among rape victims, and 32,000/year among adult victims.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8765248
^When I was in high school, our first “drug death” was a 15 year old who died because she was taking her mom’s amphetamine “diet pills”. Well, for that matter, Datura is an ancient “drug”, and a little will get you high, just a tiny bit more and you’re dead.
The REAL problem is the approaching Malthusian catastrophe. Everyone should be reversibly sterilized as early as possible until they can prove that they can be individually and socially responsible parents.
The problem ladies and gentlemen, as I have debated and argued for more than 30 years is Not Abortion, it is unwanted pregnancies. Eliminate the unwanted pregnancies and the Abortion issue goes away. This, of course, can best be accomplished today by: (1) Fully funding Family Planning. (2) Providing children complete moral, ethical, scientific, and medical knowledge and information about human relations and sex.
This of course will not happen. Just follow the money to be garnered or the ideological political or religious base to be lost; politicians, pharmaceuticals industries, hospitals, Doctors, law enforcement agencies, Priest and Pastors and there churches, and the Morticians all stand to lose if the issue of unwanted pregnancies is resolved.
But, who am I, for like Vladimir and Estragon, I too am just waiting for Godot.
“Of course, no liberal could ever imagine plan C, abstain or plan D, adoption.”Are you stupid? Go tell a couple of horny teens to abstain and see what happens. Teen who want to have sex are going to no matter what anyone says. We need a better job of “Plan A” and educate them about how to protect themselves and the consequences of not doing so.
Motivemagus over 12 years ago
Zing!
Dtroutma over 12 years ago
While I agree the “B” should be readily available, the Secretary’s comment on understanding the warnings with this drug were accurate. Of course very few 40 year-olds can understand the drug labels on OTC products. Just look how many poison themselves every year on Tylenol!
The “trick” as pointed out by the Secretary is, how to HELP those 11-18 year olds who’ve been placed in need. “Health care professional” could include just pharmacists, who understand drug interactions and actions, far better than most M.D.s. The problem is “privacy” and complicated “parent” issues, like those who rape their daughters or stepdaughters, for example?
Mephistopheles over 12 years ago
This one is right on. Obama and his Secretary are taking the coward’s route and trying to avoid giving the Conservatives a knife to stick them with.
So they avoid a political problem at the expense of little girls. What a big man he is.
Odon Premium Member over 12 years ago
Bet this is reversed right after the elections.
steven02345 over 12 years ago
Agreed Obama did make a mistake
verityannebrown Premium Member over 12 years ago
Um, both?
an old goat over 12 years ago
How can the US be both against abortion, and for the death penalty?I’ve never understood this.
eepatt over 12 years ago
This is a tough one. Kids should not be taking really powerful drugs indiscriminately. This is not aspirin or Flintstone vitamins. A frightened little girl who has probably just been severely traumatized may not use her best judgement needed to take the medication properly. Because of this, I would tend to agree with Obama. However, when a young girl has been raped by a relative or a step-father, who can she turn to for adult help? Especially if the abuser makes it appear to be her own fault? Many times she cannot even trust her own mother to believe her. Because of this, I tend to disagree with Obama. Situations like this are what Planned Parenthood is for. And the “family values” wingnuts are cutting funding for Planned Parenthood. Obama probably did the right thing, but it IS a tough decision.
geometer2 over 12 years ago
Which one of these responsibilities devaluation leads to a culture that has no respect for life!
Dtroutma over 12 years ago
ANY powerful drug can have side effects that are potentially dangerous, and not fully understood, especially when they go OTC and folks assume they’re “safe”, or wouldn’t be so available. Kids should have READY access to safe, PRIVATE, advice if they need any medicine to prolong their lives, as children, let alone humans.
Ken M might find some real statistics, that under 10 pregnancies due to rape is probably just in Biloxi, or a single household in “trailer park America”.
PlainBill over 12 years ago
Too bad your parents didn’t.
phlegmatic over 12 years ago
If you’re going to throw in numbers re pregnancies due to rape, at least name your source, and be sure it’s neutral. Pub Med has no ax to grind. A study showed a 5% rate among rape victims, and 32,000/year among adult victims.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8765248
dannysixpack over 12 years ago
It’s hard to belive the republicans aren’t standing up in concert and screaming obama is wrong about this one!
Dtroutma over 12 years ago
^When I was in high school, our first “drug death” was a 15 year old who died because she was taking her mom’s amphetamine “diet pills”. Well, for that matter, Datura is an ancient “drug”, and a little will get you high, just a tiny bit more and you’re dead.
jaimeaut over 12 years ago
The REAL problem is the approaching Malthusian catastrophe. Everyone should be reversibly sterilized as early as possible until they can prove that they can be individually and socially responsible parents.
leweclectic over 12 years ago
The problem ladies and gentlemen, as I have debated and argued for more than 30 years is Not Abortion, it is unwanted pregnancies. Eliminate the unwanted pregnancies and the Abortion issue goes away. This, of course, can best be accomplished today by: (1) Fully funding Family Planning. (2) Providing children complete moral, ethical, scientific, and medical knowledge and information about human relations and sex.
This of course will not happen. Just follow the money to be garnered or the ideological political or religious base to be lost; politicians, pharmaceuticals industries, hospitals, Doctors, law enforcement agencies, Priest and Pastors and there churches, and the Morticians all stand to lose if the issue of unwanted pregnancies is resolved.
But, who am I, for like Vladimir and Estragon, I too am just waiting for Godot.
Jason Allen over 12 years ago
“Of course, no liberal could ever imagine plan C, abstain or plan D, adoption.”Are you stupid? Go tell a couple of horny teens to abstain and see what happens. Teen who want to have sex are going to no matter what anyone says. We need a better job of “Plan A” and educate them about how to protect themselves and the consequences of not doing so.