Why Access to EC Matters
By The issue of pharmacists, doctors and hospitals interposing their moralistic views between patients and their medical needs is brought into sharp relief in this horribly depressing but must-read post. BB stopped using hormonal contraception for health reasons, and after the condom her partner was using broke, she had an immediate sense of relief as illusory as Ann Althouse’s feminism. What follows is a chilling effects of attempting to navigate a Kafkaesque irrational obstacle course populated by self-righteous wankers:
“Well see,” he begins, his voice dropping a little, “the problem is that you have to meet the doctor’s criteria before he’ll dispense it to you.”
“Criteria?” I question.
“Well,” the nurse sounds decidedly nervous as though what he really wanted to do was hang up the phone completely, “Yes, his criteria. I mean…ummm…well, are you ok? Is there any, ummm….trauma?” he asks me.
My face changes expression and I hurry to explain, “No, no” I said, “No. I haven’t been raped. This was consensual sex.”
“Oh…” he trails off.
I wait expectantly.
“Well, ummm….*clears throat*…So you haven’t been raped?” he asks again.
“No. I have not been raped. The condom broke”. I state, becoming very frustrated at this point and wondering what the hell is going on.
“Ok, well ummm….Are you married?” he mumbles the words so low I can barely hear them.
Suddenly I get this image of the poor nurse standing at the hospital reading from a cue card that was given to him by a doctor.
“No.” I state plainly. “I am not married. I’ve been in a relationship for several years and I have three children, I don’t want a fourth.” I respond tersely.
“Oh, I see.” He says and then he hurries on, “Well, see. *I* understand. I want you to know that I understand what you’re saying. But see, the problem is that we have 4 doctors here right now but only one of them ever writes EC prescriptions. But see, the thing is that he’ll interview you and see if you meet his criteria. Now, I called the pharmacy but I also talked to him and well….*clears throat*….you can come down and try to get it. You know, if you meet his criteria he’ll give you a prescription, I mean, there’s really no harm in trying.” the nurse trails off, his voice falters as I realize what I’m being told.
Another example of why 1)it was absolutely essential to make Plan B availible over-the-counter, and 2)in most cases the compromises of centrists anxious to throw away the reproductive rights of poor women in rural areas should be rejected.
Via Feministing. See also Lindsay.