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OU Students React To Federal Judge’s Emergency Contraceptives Ruling
By: Associated Press, Megan Moseley
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Ohio University students have mixed feelings about a New York federal judge's decision to make emergency contraceptives available to women of all ages.
The decision overturns a 2011 Obama administration restriction that limited access to the drug for girls under age 17.
Jessica Wyatt, an OU freshman from Cleveland, says she thinks the decision makes sense.
"I think if you're having sex, then you should be able to make the decision of how you want to deal with it," she said. "If they're having sex, then they should make the decision themselves on whether they want to prevent an unwanted pregnancy."
Heather Lind, a junior at OU, also thinks it's a "personal decision".
"I think that age is pretty young, but it's still something they should be able to prevent. There's no way they can be able to take care of a baby," she said.
Erica Zemites, an OU junior from Cincinnati, disagrees with the decision. Zemites says her opinion is faith-based, and that she does not believe in sex before marriage.
"I disagree with any kind of abortion. I know that people say you don't really have any control over it, but I don't know how?" she said. "I think there's always an option."
Judge Edward Korman ruled that the Food and Drug Administration must make emergency contraceptives available to women of all ages within 30 days.
He criticized the FDA for failing to engage in rulemaking to adopt an age-restricted marketing regime. He says the plaintiffs should not be forced to endure and the agency's misconduct should not be rewarded for its "delay and obstruction."
He says the case isn't about the potential misuse of the so-called morning-after pill by 11-year-olds. He says the contraceptives would be among the safest drugs sold over-the-counter. He says the number of 11-year-olds likely to use the drugs was minuscule.