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Britain's biggest chemist plans to sell the morning-after pill on the internet.
Teenagers could buy the emergency contraceptive from the Boots website without seeing a doctor or pharmacist.
It is feared this will fuel promiscuity among young girls, who unknown to their parents will be able to keep a supply in their bedroom.
And because it will encourage unprotected sex, it risks adding to the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases among the under-25s.
Boots sells the morning after pill on the internet: Outcry at plan by Britain's biggest chemist that could let under-16s 'stock up' without seeing a GP
Seeded on Fri Aug 13, 2010 6:19 PM EDT
Article Source: the Mail online- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (25)
The Boots Prescriptions-Direct website enables customers to buy certain treatments such as anti-malarials, hairloss treatments and drugs to help quit smoking without the need of a prescription.
The chemist's professional standards director, Paul Bennett, said: 'We're expecting this service will be expanded to include emergency hormonal contraceptives - the morning-after pill. The opportunity to expand certainly exists. It is a very exciting development.'
Dr Trevor Stammers, a GP from South London who also lectures in healthcare ethics, said: 'This will just encourage people to be irresponsible.
'The morning-after pill is also fuelling an epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases as people just think they can have unprotected sex.
'The fact that it will be available over the internet is a further trend of our increasingly sexualised society.
Peter Saunders, chief executive-of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said: 'The danger is that the morning-after pill would be easily available to young girls without them seeing a doctor.
'This would encourage them to think of it as a safety mechanism and this may well promote greater promiscuity.
'There is also still the risk of pregnancy - as it isn't always effective. And there is the concern that young girls entering a sexual relationship too early will suffer emotionally when it breaks down.
'It's putting company profits before women's health.'
Josephine Quintaville, of the Pro Life Alliance, described the Boots plan as 'grossly inappropriate'. She said: 'It could lead to young girls stockpiling the pills and then taking them incorrectly - too late for example. They would be able to bypass parents, who would have no knowledge of what they were doing.
'Girls of any age could access them. They would not have to prove how old they were so we could have very young girls aged 11 buying the morning-after pill.'
Jesus help me, how much stupider can society get?
- 4 votes
#1 - Fri Aug 13, 2010 6:22 PM EDTKinda makes you want to put your cheerleader outfit on and go back to high school, don't it?
- 3 votes
This shouldn't be a problem. According to one of the most prolific British posters on the Newsvine, their values and sense of morality far exceeds that of elsewhere and particularly the US. In her opinion the USA is one of the most vile and immoral places on earth. After all we don't wholesale accept the actions of Islam, gays, liberalism, etc. and all we do is practice greed, avarice, exceptionalism and force our values on our own people and other nations of the world. Yes, this should work out well for them. I think they should have dispensers at each council housing project and dole office. Better to this than teach responsibility.
- 6 votes
#2 - Fri Aug 13, 2010 6:40 PM EDTI can see the billbords now: The UK, where our teens have the highest percentage of VD on earth!
What a country to be proud of!! /s
- 3 votes
where our teens have the highest percentage of VD on earth!
You can cure VD (most of the time), better that than the highest percentage of unwanted children on earth.
- 8 votes
Hey if these girls are smart enough to get the morning after pill online you'd think they'd be smart enough to get and use birth control.
But we've got our own issues here in the US, with people like Jennifer Aniston telling 12 and 13 year old girls, "you don't need a guy, you don't need a dad", per Bill O'Reilly.
- 5 votes
My main problem is that these kids won't be educated about using regular birth control and think that this pill will solve all their problems.
The morning after pill doesn't work all the time. And most teens are sloppy about using the pill. Hell, I would forget to take it too!
Also, most teen boys would be thrilled to hear they can screw away without protection, because then the girls can just go online and get a few pills, and presto!
I know a lot of adults who don't use their heads when it comes to sex, I seriously doubt teens are any better.
- 3 votes
Very sound comments.
Nothing beats abstinence, but that has a abysmal failure rate. Next best is a planned approach to birth control and having responsible sex. The use of the morning after pill or abortion as a form of birth control is just plain stupid.
The readily available nature of such a “pill” will add nothing to the long term responsible behavior of young people. The only real beneficiaries of this program will be the pharmaceutical companies, the NHS management bribed to approve such a measure and Boots.
- 2 votes
The only real beneficiaries of this program will be the pharmaceutical companies,
Who are probably peeing in their pants about the possibility of all those teenage pregnancies.
- 3 votes
You can cure VD (most of the time), better that than the highest percentage of unwanted children on earth.
Angry Left - It's the VD that you cannot cure that people are worried about (AIDS, and drug resistant diseases for example.) As for your claim of unwanted children, how about using condoms rather than stockpiling or using morning after pills?
Plus, I don't know how unwanted those children are.
Nothing beats abstinence, but that has a abysmal failure rate.
Actually, abstinence is VERY effective in preventing pregnancy, and some studies show that it does not have an "abysmal failure rate."
- 3 votes
Nothing beats abstinence, but that has an abysmal failure rate. (Leo Katz #2.5)
Actually, I fully agree, abstinence is VERY effective in preventing pregnancy
I agree that true abstinence, not just lip service abstinence with an occasional "Oops," is proven to be 100% effective. The next best method is a planned approach to birth control and having responsible sex.
Unfortunately it is the "Oops" that are responsible for both pregancy and STDs. Regardless the morning after pill and abortions should not be considered part of birth control.
- 3 votes
Leo, I tried abstinence and it was the worst day of my life!
- 5 votes
I don't try at all unless I am sleeping, comatose or without a "target for my affections."
- 4 votes
What is the big deal here? They can still go to the pharmacy where it is "stock piled". Since they are teens they still need to get the money for the pills somehow. How is this any different from young girls going behind their parents back to get on birth control?
- 4 votes
#3 - Fri Aug 13, 2010 6:59 PM EDTTrue enough...
I would like to know how they intend to 'pay' for it using an online site...They would have to have a credit card or bank card to do this...
- 4 votes
Young girls with access to credit cards - their own or their parents' - could obtain it for themselves and for friends who would be taking it without any medical advice whatsoever.
Maybe they will be able to read the article. It tells there. Regadless, the clever youth of today will certainly figure out something.
- 3 votes
lol...I saw the related paragraphs...
"But if it is made available over the internet, they will need only to fill in an online form and make a payment for the contraceptive to be delivered by post the next day.
Young girls with access to credit cards - their own or their parents' - could obtain it for themselves and for friends who would be taking it without any medical advice whatsoever.
As a person who worked in a bank, I know what card companies allow 'kids' to have...with parental supervision...Most teen's do not have access to cc and as a parent if my daughter wanted to use my card I would then know what it is she is ordering...
To make this out to be some sort of illicit 'secret' is laughable...
- 2 votes
Young girls with access to credit cards - their own or their parents' - could obtain it for themselves and for friends who would be taking it without any medical advice whatsoever.
Straight from the article. If a parent of stupid enough to give their kid a credit card and not check the statements then that is their problem. Can trust them with a credit card but not their reproductive rights, eh?
These pills are pretty straight forward. Women aren't idiots and there are ways of getting information other than being grilled by someone about your sexual experiences in a tiny room. A YouTube video, chat, graphic, or article would suffice. If they have already taken the morning after pill in the past then they have already got advice they need. I see no reason why they should have to go over it each and everytime they buy it.
- 3 votes
You don't even need to wait for a 'monthly' statement anymore...account activity is updated and viewable online after a couple of days...
I agree, I don't see a problem with having a source like this available...I wish it were when I was younger...I hate going to the Dr.s and I hate going to the 'pharmacy'...I am unusual for a woman that I dislike shopping.
- 2 votes
As a joke, in high school, I applied for AND RECEIVED my very own credit card at the ripe old age of 16. I immediately cut it up after calling and cancelling it. You would be surprised how easily kids can find a way to pay for things when they are desperate!
- 4 votes
God forbid sexually active people should be able to make decisions...
Although, I've got to ask: Do they offer free one day shipping? Otherwise, I feel like it would be sort of useless...
In fact, that may actually be the point. Make it so damn expensive to over-night 'em, you'd be more careful.
- 2 votes
#5 - Fri Aug 13, 2010 8:30 PM EDTAll kinds of things are available for sale on the internet. A 9yo could buy pretty much anything with the right purchasing power.
Plan B has been available in the US via internet purchase for a long time and I never heard any freakout like this over it.
- 4 votes
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