When There's No Plan B

[MountainLaurel]

The conservative politics of the Bush administration forced me to have an abortion I didn't want. Well, not literally, but let me explain.

I am a 42-year-old happily married mother of two elementary-schoolers. My husband and I both work, and like many couples, we're starved for time together. One Thursday evening this past March, we managed to snag some rare couple time and, in a sudden rush of passion, I failed to insert my diaphragm.

The next morning, after getting my kids off to school, I called my ob/gyn to get a prescription for Plan B, the emergency contraceptive pill that can prevent a pregnancy -- but only if taken within 72 hours of intercourse. As we're both in our forties, my husband and I had considered our family complete, and we weren't planning to have another child, which is why, as a rule, we use contraception. I wanted to make sure that our momentary lapse didn't result in a pregnancy.

The receptionist, however, informed me that my doctor did not prescribe Plan B. No reason given. Neither did my internist. The midwifery practice I had used could prescribe it, but not over the phone, and there were no more open appointments for the day. The weekend -- and the end of the 72-hour window -- was approaching.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/02/AR2006060201405.html

[EVDebs]

1. Looks like BushCo wants to create a 'black market' for it

Kind of like the one they use with heroin across the globe to fund black operations outside Congressional scrutiny (Alfred McCoy, The Politics of Heroin).

[MountainLaurel]

2. Interesting concept

I'd never considered that angle before, but it could certainly be part of the larger picture. Of course, that doesn't speak to this woman's problem, of not being able to obtain a prescription from her own physicians.

Speaking of which, she doesn't mention if she ever confronted her physician, or if she found a new one after that experience. (I sure the hell would.)

[AnnieBW]

3. Ya Beat Me To It!

This was a great, shocking article. I'm one year younger than this woman and I'm also on at least one medication that would cause serious birth defects. As much as I would like to have a kid, at age 41 and on blood pressure meds, I'd have to abort. And I'm in the Maryland suburbs of DC.

[MountainLaurel]

5. It's a cautionary tale

And reinforces that we need to speak with our physicians about this BEFORE we're in such a position. I'm between doctors at the moment (I moved from the VA 'burbs to DC, and since we're planning on moving within a year, I didn't see a point in finding a new one), but I think a question we should all be asking our physicians is whether there is a point where their beliefs will interfere with our medical care. And if the answer is yes, we need to find another physician. Simple as that.

[monarch]

4. Absolutely chilling!

Everyone should read this, not just those of us who identify choice as a major issue. I recommended it but do you think that we'd get a better response, if you post it in a larger forum? There are way too many people who don't realize how our rights are being threatened and who don't take the time to read the postings here.

On edit: I see that it was posted in editorials and that it got 18 recommendations. Good for DU!

[MountainLaurel]

6. Link to the Editorials thread

For those who might be interested:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=215203&mesg_id=215203

[MountainLaurel]

7. An online chat with "Dana"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/06/02/DI2006060200911.html

It amazes me just how ignorant people are.

[monarch]

8. Infuriatingly ignorant and judgmental!

What truly horrible people some of those posters are!

[bleedingheart]

10. wow...all those perfect people....

those people who are always prepared and ready with birth control....wow...to be so perfect...

[mwooldri]

9. Shouldn't have to take the day off work and resort to Yellow Pages....

... calling every darned OB-GYN for a simple prescription for a pill. Heck I take more dangerous drugs than any "Plan B" pill (try bipolar... you either feel great or you don't.) So to have the OB-GYN say no and then have to punt around to every darned doctor...

Would be easier to catch a plane to the UK and get a doctor to write a prescription. Would be a bloody expensive but at least RU485 or whatever it is is available over there.

Another thought... ever thought about 'the coil' - an inter-uterine device? Wouldn't OB-GYNs be able to do this on a rush basis? As long as this is done up to 5 days after then it's 98-99% effective at stopping the pregnancy, if there ever was one.

Mark

[HockeyMom]

11. Even Easier

Get a script for plain old birth control pills, even just a one month's supply. Take 2 or 3 pills a day (depending on the pill) for 2 or 3 days. A doctor can tell which depending on which kind and dosage of BC Pills they are.

What do you think women did before the Morning After Pil? Or those already on BC Pill who forget to take them?

[senseIsntCommon]

12. Wow. I don't know what else to say, but WTF?

I can't fathom where we're going here. This is suppose to be a country run by reason not religion. So much for the Enlightenment.

#9 and #11 are correct. IUDs are safe nowdays and take about five minutes for a doctor to put in and even less time to take out. There are a few kinds and they last from 5-12 years. There is a whole lot of misinformation about them on the Internet, if you should so choose to research it. You're better off asking a doctor about them. For example, repeatedly on the internet I read that if you hadn't had a child, it would be easier for it to come out. When I asked the dotcor about it, it turned out that it was the exact opposite, which makes sense.

Also, Plan-B is really just a higher dose of the Pill. Ask any Pharmacist. I say that any Pharmacist or Doctor who refuses to fill a legal prescription based on personal beliefs, religious or otherwise should have their license revoked. What if the Pharmacist or Doctor is a Vegan and doesn't believe in using animal products in medication? Some medications use animal products. It's just as absurd. What if you couldn't get your diabetes medication because your doctor was Vegan?

I'm of the mindset that the government and other self-righteous morons have no right to tell me when or if I should have children. It's a violation of my privacy and also a violation of two of my basic rights, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Against abortion? Don't have one. I think it's a laugh riot that an old white man can sit in D.C. and tell some poor mother that she's gotta have more kids when she can't feed the one's she's got. *Oh, but wait...I sense a conspiracy* Maybe what it is, is that they want poor kids to fight unjust wars. Less than six degrees of separation.

BTW, the lady in the article's husband needs to get snippy snippy if they don't want any more kids. Super fast, safe and effective.