Abortion Opponents Urge Pharmacists to Refuse to Dispense New Emergency Contraceptive, ella

Wash. Post: Will pharmacists fill 'ella' prescriptions?, by Rob Stein:

Even before a controversial new form of emergency contraception arrives on pharmacy shelves in the United States, opponents have launched a campaign to persuade pharmacists not to fill prescriptions for the drug. The Family Research Council is asking supporters to start lobbying their local pharmacists to refuse to dispense the drug, known as "ella."

The Food and Drug Administration approved ella Aug. 13 as a new type of "morning-after" pill that can prevent a pregnancy for up to five days after sex. Supporters say the pill offers women a much-needed new way to prevent unwanted pregnancies. The only other morning-after pill on the market, known as Plan B, starts to lose effectiveness quickly and becomes far less effective after 72 hours.

Opponents, however, argue that ella is really an abortion drug masquerading as a morning-after pill. Ella is chemically similar to RU-486, the so-called "French abortion pill." As a result, they argue that women might inadvertently give themselves abortions, and worry that some men might slip the drug to unsuspecting women. They also question whether ella is safe. . . .

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Click here for information about the difference between emergency contraception and abortion.