The acting U.S. Food and Drug Administration head who is seeking a permanent appointment to the post said his opposition to allowing the so-called morning-after pill to be available for teenage girls was based on science and not political partisanship.
Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach was under heavy questioning Tuesday by Democrats as part of his nomination to head the FDA, according to Reuters.
Democrats on complained that Republicans have been stalling the debate to approve non prescription sales of Barr Pharmacuticals’ Plan B emergency contraceptive pill for women which can prevent pregnancy when taken within 72 hours of sex.
Eschenbach’s opposition to using the drug for girls under 18 is in keeping with the Repbublicans’ arguments that such a drug should not be made available to teenage girls because it is tantamount to having an abortion.
Barr had originally applied for over-the-counter sales of the drug without age restrictions, but the FDA has told the company that it cannot make the drug available to girls under 18. The agency, however, must still make a final ruling on the drug’s availability.
New York Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton along with fellow Democrat Patty Murray of Washington, have vowed to block von Eschenbach’s nomination until the FDA makes a final ruling on the drug.
Plan B supporters say the drug would help prevent abortions while those who oppose it say it would encourage promiscuity.
