Removing Restrictions on Plan B?

[fluorometholone]

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In America, they want to keep it on the shelves without age restrictions...
http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/...-restrictions-from-morning-after-pill-plan-b/
...while the UK wants to make it free
http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16125022
Seems like a bad idea all around. I have my own objections to this stuff (TRY PLAN A FIRST), but even still. From a $$ perspective, we could keep it on our shelves and kids will just steal it, and then we'll have to keep it behind the counter again anyway.

 

[Carboxide]

In America, they want to keep it on the shelves without age restrictions...
http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/...-restrictions-from-morning-after-pill-plan-b/
...while the UK wants to make it free
http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16125022
Seems like a bad idea all around. I have my own objections to this stuff (TRY PLAN A FIRST), but even still. From a $$ perspective, we could keep it on our shelves and kids will just steal it, and then we'll have to keep it behind the counter again anyway.

Nobody uses Plan B as birth control. I really believe that. No one says, "It's okay, I'll just bang tons of dudes and buy a crapload of Plan B." If it's safe for all ages, I would be fine with making it OK for all ages. I would rather keep it behind the counter, though, just so we can counsel on it. Plus, I do think it would be a major target for theft due to the high price tag and imminent need.

 

[Pharmizzle]

I have my own objections to this stuff (TRY PLAN A FIRST), but even still.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. I would say the vast majority of patients who purchase Plan B DID try "plan A" first but something didn't go right (eg, the condom broke, they realized they forgot to take their regular BC, etc). That's kind of the point, hence the name.

 

[fluorometholone]

I'm not sure what you mean by this. I would say the vast majority of patients who purchase Plan B DID try "plan A" first but something didn't go right (eg, the condom broke, they realized they forgot to take their regular BC, etc). That's kind of the point, hence the name.

Oh, I don't know about that. I see repeat people all the time. Once is a mistake. Twice is a judgement problem. Three times? We have some people with medicaid who get their GP to write scripts for it, so I can see that they're on number six or seven. Where is plan A there?

 

[KARM12]

Babies are still more expensive...

 

[spacecowgirl]

Oh, I don't know about that. I see repeat people all the time. Once is a mistake. Twice is a judgement problem. Three times? We have some people with medicaid who get their GP to write scripts for it, so I can see that they're on number six or seven. Where is plan A there?

Why does it matter? We give statins to people who eat fatty food, we give metformin to people who drink a case of Mt Dew a day. If you want to use personal responsibility as a metric for who should get a medication, you're going to have a very big job ahead of you.

Babies are still more expensive...

Exactly.

 

[Pharmizzle]

Oh, I don't know about that. I see repeat people all the time. Once is a mistake. Twice is a judgement problem. Three times? We have some people with medicaid who get their GP to write scripts for it, so I can see that they're on number six or seven. Where is plan A there?

Hence why I said vast majority, and not every single person. I've seen repeat patients too, but in my experience (granted I live and work in a pretty nice area) not very many.

For the sake of argument, even if a patient were using it over and over, isn't it the patient's decision what contraceptive method they want to use? Honestly I'd just be glad they were using *something*.

More on topic, I support removing the age restrictions, but I agree with you that it will be a huge target for theft if kept in front of the counter. Otherwise, I don't see any drawbacks to making this readily available to any and all women who need it.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

More on topic, I support removing the age restrictions, but I agree with you that it will be a huge target for theft if kept in front of the counter. Otherwise, I don't see any drawbacks to making this readily available to any and all women who need it.

Put it in a plastic case like the razors, any employee can unlock and walk the patient to the register.

 

[BenJammin]

Put it in a plastic case like the razors, any employee can unlock and walk the patient to the register.

Nothing is more frustrating than going to Walmart to get a video game and have them not let you hold or look at the game without buying it first. Now we want to do this with Plan B instead of putting it close to the register? I don't like this.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

Nothing is more frustrating than going to Walmart to get a video game and have them not let you hold or look at the game without buying it first. Now we want to do this with Plan B instead of putting it close to the register? I don't like this.

Its not that way with the razor blades, hence my suggestion.

 

[StevePerry]

In America, they want to keep it on the shelves without age restrictions...
http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/...-restrictions-from-morning-after-pill-plan-b/
...while the UK wants to make it free
http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16125022
Seems like a bad idea all around. I have my own objections to this stuff (TRY PLAN A FIRST), but even still. From a $$ perspective, we could keep it on our shelves and kids will just steal it, and then we'll have to keep it behind the counter again anyway.

I disagree with you. I think we should have them wait a month or two and then push for the PLAN C option since it will save the health care system and taxpayers even more money, not to mention the externality of encouraging future personal responsibility on the broad's behalf.

 

[fluorometholone]

I disagree with you. I think we should have them wait a month or two and then push for the PLAN C option since it will save the health care system and taxpayers even more money, not to mention the externality of encouraging future personal responsibility on the broad's behalf.

I can and will get behind this.

 

[hcp]

Health Secretary blocks wider access to morning-after pill