Emergency contraception supposed to be available to teens, but pharmacists telling them they're too [View all]

[kpete]

Emergency contraception is supposed to be available to teens, but pharmacists are telling them they're too young


In the study, researchers called pharmacies in several different cities around the country posing as teenage girls seeking emergency contraception. Approximately 20 percent of the pharmacy staff they contacted wrongfully informed the callers that because they were teenagers they could not legally have access to emergency contraception at all. Of the remaining 80 percent of respondents, only about half of them got the exact age requirements for Plan B correct.


Even more interesting were some of the other things pharmacy staff told the callers. Many cited ethical reasons or personal religious beliefs for not offering the medication. Other pharmacists inaccurately told the callers that a parent or guardian would have to come with them to pick up the medication (even if they had a prescription) or that an older friend or boyfriend above the age restriction could not buy Plan B over the counter for them. In fact, some callers were even told Plan B wasn’t sold to men, which also isn’t true.


the rest: http://www.salon.com/2014/02/09/americas_plan_b_problem_the_contraception_misinformation_epidemic/