Planned Parenthood Giving Away Morning After Pills in National Event 
Email this article
Printer friendly page
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 6, 2006
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The nation’s largest abortion business is coming under fire for a national event Wednesday where hundreds of its local abortion centers will give away free packets containing the morning after pill. Studies have shown the drug, which may possibly cause an abortion in limited circumstances, does nothing to reduce abortions.
More than 350 Planned Parenthood centers will give away the morning after pill to anyone who wants a packet, including adult men who may be using it as a way of covering up sexual abuse.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America Vice President for Medical Affairs Vanessa Cullins, said "Emergency contraception is a safe, effective backup birth control option that every woman should have in her medicine cabinet and know how to use."
People getting the morning after pills will get one dose, or two morning after pills that would otherwise cost them anywhere from $25 to $45 at a local pharmacy.
Some women who sign up for the free pills will also qualify for free or reduced cost services — including abortions — at the Planned Parenthood facilities.
Mimi Every, executive director of Pregnancy Support Services in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, says her group doesn’t support the giveaway.
"We promote abstinence because that protects young women from all sorts of circumstances," including sexually transmitted diseases, she told the local newspaper there.
That men could get the drug to force women to use whom they have victimized sexually is particularly troubling for pro-life advocates.
"I think the fact they are handing this out to men is outrageous," Rachel Cunningham of the Iowa Family Policy Center told the Des Moines Register newspaper.
"I don’t think I’ve ever seen a campaign that would better enable abusive men to hide their crimes," she added.
Kathi Di Nicola of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa didn’t respond to the charges but simply told the newspaper that the Food and Drug Administration allows men to purchase the drug.
Drug stores across the country started selling the morning after pill over the counter last week after the FDA allowed such sales in August. However, the FDA put in place a requirement that the drug only be dispensed to people over the age of 18.
Though Planned Parenthood’s centers will require anyone getting the free morning after pills to be over the age of 18, the giveaway makes it easier for a teenager with an older sibling or friend to get the drug when they should be seeing a doctor instead.
Even with the requirement, girls under the age of 18 can still get the free Plan B drugs form the Planned Parenthood facilities as long as they fill out some paperwork and listen to a pro-abortion counselor.
Studies have shown that abortions in England went up at the morning after pill was made available over the counter there.
