Illinois Federation

For Right to Life

Daily News

Friday, December 12, 2008

London Hands Out the Pill to Teens without Prescription

 

Women in London soon will be able to get birth-control pills without a prescription in an effort to reduce the number of teen pregnancies, The Telegraph reported.

 

Starting next month, women as young as 16 can obtain the pill in the two areas of London that report some of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country: Southwark and Lambeth. Officials say the initiative then may be implemented throughout England.

 

Carrie Gordon Earll, senior bioethics analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said there are good reasons a physician's visit typically is required before a woman goes on the pill.

 

"An accurate medical history and physical are important to assess her level of risk in taking this drug," she said. "To bypass this protective measure — especially with teenage girls who may not be aware of their medical risks — is unwise and may be harmful."

 

Earll also warned that birth-control pills do nothing to stop sexually transmitted infections, which have reached epidemic levels around the world.

 

Source: CitizenLink

Source URL: http://www.citizenlink.org

Publish Date: December 11, 2008

Link to this article:

http://www.ifrl.org/ifrl/news/081212_6.htm

 

 

The IFRL is the largest grassroots pro-life organization in Illinois. A non-profit organization, that serves as the state coordinating body for local pro-life chapters representing thousands of Illinois citizens working to restore respect for all human life in our society. The IFRL is composed of people of different political persuasions, various faiths and diverse economic, social and ethnic backgrounds. Since 1973 the Illinois Federation for Right to Life has been working to end abortion and restore legal protection to those members of the human family who are threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. Diverse though we are, we hold one common belief - that every human being has an inalienable right to life that is precious and must be protected. IFRL is dedicated to restoring the right to life to the unborn, and protection for the disabled and the elderly.   Click here to learn more about the IFRL.