Way now clear for FDA approval of Plan B "morning-after" pill

Now that senators Patty Murray of Washington and Hillary Clinton of New York, have dropped their objections to acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford becoming the permanent commissioner, approval for the sale of the Plan B "morning-after" contraceptive without a prescription should be granted with the minimum of delay.

President George W. Bush selected Acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford, as his choice to be permanent commissioner, in February, but a range of issues have delayed a Senate vote on the nomination.

Murray and Clinton, both Democrats, had blocked a vote on Crawford to an attempt to protest at the FDA's delay in ruling on Plan B, a set of pills that can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse.

It had been planned that the FDA would give Barr Pharmaceuticals an answer early in the year.

The senators said in a statement last week that the FDA has finally agreed to give women across the country what was fought for from the beginning, a yes or no decision.

A letter from Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt saying the FDA would rule by Sept. 1 was released by the senators.

The FDA comes under Leavitt's department.

In the letter Leavitt says the decision rests solely with the FDA, and must be made according to the scientific evidence and the FDA's authority. He adds that he was not involved in the process.

Oklahoma Republican Senator Tom Coburn, also withdrew his objection to a vote on Crawford.

Coburn had apparently blocked the vote because he was upset the FDA had not implemented a five-year-old law requiring accurate condom labels to explain how well they work and the diseases they prevent.

Coburn has since received assurances from administration officials that the law would be implemented.

Crawford is a food safety expert and has a doctorate in pharmacology. He has served as acting FDA commissioner since March 2004. He previously worked as acting commissioner from February to November 2002.