The FDA is looking into a vending machine dispensing Plan B on campus in Pennsylvania and whether or not that is fine with regards to prescription and ID requirements. A school spokesperson said “You cannot be a 13-year-old and walk in and get it” because the vending machine is on campus. (?)
I’m working out at one of Ottawa’s universities these days. Just before my swim time, there’s a class for small kids, in the university pool. The place is literally crawling with kids of all ages whenever I’m there. Just saying.
I’m against dispensing drugs in vending machines in general, and on campus in specific. And while I’m concerned about the wrong people getting access, I’m also generally concerned about a culture whereby we put condoms in washrooms and Plan B in vending machines. I don’t actually think you have to be particularly conservative to step back and think that sounds like a culture gone totally astray.
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Well, if I was a pharmacist I’d be pretty upset at the vending machine take-over. But seriously, it’s not like it’s Vitamin Water, it’s a chemical the messes with your uterus. I would hope that people are reading the Plan B side effects page, found here:
http://www.planb.ca/what.html
After reading that, people should think that this is not the best idea. (Plan B also has interactions with other medications students might be on, only a pharmacist or doctor would point that out to them.)
If we keep doing “remote” prescriptions for abortions and using vending machines as general practitioners, women are going to start to feel isolated from real doctors.
“Research on women’s interaction with doctors is limited, but a number of women’s health experts say they had noticed trends among female patients they didn’t see as frequently in men.
Feeling paralyzed and voiceless in the doctor’s office is one of the major health care mistakes women make, says Dr. Christiane Northrup, author of “Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing.”
(source: http://articles.cnn.com/2008-05-14/health/ep.women.mistakes_1_new-doctor-northrup-female-patients?_s=PM:HEALTH)
You can already get Tylenol and Ibuprofen from vending machines. Both of these drugs are known to cause more serious side effects than Plan B.
Hey Michelle, now it’s my turn. Perhaps you can furnish some studies for that assertion.
I disagree:
https://acestoohigh.com/2016/08/10/childhood-trauma-leads-to-lifelong-chronic-illness-so-why-isnt-the-medical-community-helping-patients/
Friendly, Kirstin