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No Age Limit On Morning After Pill

Last updated on Sunday, April 7, 2013

(INDIANAPOLIS) - A major ruling came Friday in the battle over contraception. A federal judge has decided that the morning-after pill should have no age limits and require no prescription.

Brooke Martin, of WISH TV reports, Indiana activists Friday reacted to a somewhat surprise decision by a federal judge. No longer will there be age restrictions to buy the morning-after pill.

"These girls can't drive cars. They're 16 and under now and to be able to just go get that on their own is scary as a parent," said Legislative Director of Indiana Right to Life, Sue Swayze.

Swayze says the decision is not only concerning to parents but to the physical and emotional health of young girls. She says they may only view it as a free pass for sex. So might child predators, Swayze fears.

"I think the decisions about emergency contraception have been political," said Liz Carroll of Planned Parenthood of Indiana

Carroll doesn't see anything but positive results from Friday's ruling.

"It's an important step forward and it will help us reduce the number of unintended pregnancies in this country."

The root of the disagreement comes down to science but both sides' findings are very different. Is the morning-after pill a type of contraception or it a type of abortion?

"Emergency contraception is contraception. It does not effect an existing pregnancy. If you take emergency contraception while pregnant it won't impact that pregnancy. The abortion pill actually terminates an existing pregnancy," said Carroll.

"Some people call that emergency contraception. It is actually not. It is actually an abortifacient. The way it works is that the sperm and the egg have already fertilized and it prevents implantation. So the baby is formed at that moment. It's a scientific fact, and it prevents the implantation," said Swayze.

Carroll is now awaiting changes from the FDA to begin implementation.

Swayze is counting on an appeal.

Two years ago this issue came up. At that time, the Obama administration blocked the move saying young girls might not be able to understand how to properly use it.

This week, the President stood by that decision.

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