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Senator Plans to Propose Abortion Legislation

November 29, 2005
By: Tim Walker
State Capital Bureau

One state Senator says offering the Morning After Pill by prescription only will reduce STD's.

Tim Walker has more from Jefferson City.

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The FDA currently says a prescription is needed for Plan B, or the Morning After Pill.

Senator Jason Crowell, a Republican from Cape Girardeau, says if the Morning After Pill became available over the counter people may use it instead of condoms.

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"The potential in having an over the counter super birth control pill, if you will, could lead to an increase in sexually transmitted diseases. Because, people will tell you that the Plan B pill does not prevent any sexually transmitted diseases."

Crowell says he will introduce legislation to keep the Morning After Pill a prescription drug.

From the state Capital, I'm Tim Walker.

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One state Senator says pharmacists should have a choice when deciding whether or not to fill some contraceptive prescriptions.

Tim Walker has more from Jefferson City.

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Senator Jason Crowell, a Republican from Cape Girardeau, plans to propose legislation that would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for any drug they feel induces an abortion, such as the Morning After Pill.

But Crowell says he is not trying to reduce the number of abortions, but give pharmacists options.

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"Just like every surgeon or every doctor does not have to perform abortions, they have the choice on whether they want to perform abortions or they don't want to perform abortions. I think pharmacists should have that same choice that physicians have."

Crowell also plans to propose legislation that would give tax credits to facilities that promote abortion alternatives.

From the state Capital, I'm Tim Walker.

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The FDA currently says a prescription is needed for the Morning After Pill, and one state Senator wants that to continue.

Tim Walker has more from Jefferson City.

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Senator Jason Crowell, a Republican from Cape Girardeau, plans to introduce legislation that would ensure Plan B, or the Morning After Pill, stays a prescription drug.

Crowell says people need to understand what they are taking.

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"They need the benefit of having talked it over with the physician or a health care provider such as a nurse practitioner, to make sure that they understand that this Plan B pill does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

The FDA is considering whether or not to start offering the drug over the counter.

From the state Capital, I'm Tim Walker.

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If the FDA decides to make the Morning After Pill an over the counter drug, Missouri may not follow suit.

Tim Walker has more from Jefferson City.

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Senator Jason Crowell, a Republican from Cape Girardeau, says he will propose legislation to keep the Morning After Pill a prescription drug.

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"I don't want the definition of over the counter to somehow broadcast to young couples that this is the way."

But Paula Gianino, President of Planned Parenthood in St. Louis, says she thinks Crowell is out of step with women's needs.

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"This is a great example of a state Senator playing doctor by confusing science with his own kind of narrow and rigid ideology."

The Morning After Pill is currently available only as a prescription.

From the state Capital, I'm Tim Walker.