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There are reasons why requiring prescriptions is a good idea.
Birth control pills come with a lot of risks, and having a doctor inform a woman of what those risks might be for her, personally, and whether other forms of birth control might be more appropriate, benefits women. Also, prescription birth control ensures that a woman actually visits a doctor, so that not only her reproductive issues can be addressed, but so that her overall health issues can be evaluated. Because healthcare is so expensive in the United States, and because women in the age group seeking birth control are also the same demographic that might not have insurance to offset those costs, the requirement of a prescription gets these women to see a doctor, to get tests done.
All irrelevant. Every single thing you said applies to every other medication in existence.
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It should be noted that in countries where universal health care is available, the cost of healthcare doesn't discourage people from seeing the doctor and addressing minor issues before they become major issues.
If you are going to note that, you should also note that they already pay a higher cost through higher taxes so again this is an irrelevant point.
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That said, I think the most basic and common forms of birth control pills should be available OTC, with screening. I believe that women are well able to evaluate risks for themselves, and that control of their reproductive health should be in their hands.
There is no such thing as reproductive health. There's just health. Using terms like "reproductive health" just hurts your own arguments. Why should they be in charge of their own reproductive health but not their own ocular health or dental health or cardiovascular health? It's just nonsense meant to inject emotional investment into the issue. Just meant to plant a seed of "Oh my God! My health's at risk and I have no control over it!!" into women's minds so they will vote liberal.
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The screening is not to take away that control, but to remind women that while contraception may be a normal, daily part of our lives, it is not without consequences, potentially very serious consquences, and so the decision to use contraceptives, and the decision about which contraceptives to use, should be made thoughtfully and informedly.
So should deciding to cross the street before looking both ways. Again, attempts to inject hysteria into the issue to influence people to think with their emotions instead of their heads. Liberals are always more about emotions than facts.
He's either a dolt or a woman-hater or both. The contraindications of hormonal birth control treatment are legion. It can be deadly for many women and should never be used without a physician's oversight.
He's a politician, and the left loves them, and trusts them more with their life's choices then they do themselves, especially where health care is concerned. How dare anyone challenge the word of these politicians.
Next thing you know, people will be challenging our appointed bureaucrats.
Well good, at least we were able to get past the idea that it can't or shouldn't be done. It shouldn't be this hard.
Maybe you should get past the idea that if this is what the politician in question wanted to do he should have started with mandating that insurance policies cover contraceptives irrespective of the way they are dispensed and only then try to moe to to over the counter category?
Otherwise we all know that what he wanted to do is to advance the religious right agenda to eliminate contraceptives from the list of reimbursed medications...
Do note the ACOG recommeds that women self-screen, in other words fill out a questionnaire before being able to purchase BCPs OTC.
From ACOG ---
"Despite the safety of OC use, one frequently cited concern regarding over-the-counter provision of OCs is the potential harm that could result if women with contraindications use them. However, several studies have shown that women can self-screen for contraindications.... Both studies showed that in cases of discrepancy, women were more likely to report contraindications than were health care providers."
The ACOG makes an assumption that isn't unanimous on this thread --- women have the smarts to know drugs have effects and will be careful in their choices.
True, the ACOG doesn't recommend pharmacies build an aisle tonight to sell bc. Other issues need attention before bc is otc. What's clear is that a bunch of D women and groups reacted knee-jerkedly to the overall idea because some R's proposed it. [see posts 4 & 5 as examples.]
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