Fighting science with politics

Emergency contraceptive pills have long been a hot button issue in US politics due to their mischaracterization as inducing abortion and promoting promiscuity, leading to delayed approvals and restricted access. A recent decision on the Plan B One-Step pill suggests that, once again, science has taken a back seat to politics.

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On 7 December, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) blocked the decision by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve over-the-counter (OTC) sales of the emergency contraceptive Plan B One-Step to women aged 16 and younger (seepage 8). Sebelius's action marks the first instance in which the HHS has overruled a verdict by the FDA, and it sets a disturbing precedent for the ability of the FDA to act independently of outside interests in assessing the safety and efficacy of drugs and medical devices.