ay have created a life if she takes the emergency contraceptive as opposed to the alternative of having the child or an abortion (Physicians Weekly 2). She elaborates that emergency contraceptives may be damaging to a woman's emotional health leading to depression and lowered self-esteem as a result of high-risk behaviors.Once a patient can obtain a prescription for an emergency contraceptive the quest may not end there. Often, pharmacies may not carry emergency contraceptives. Wal-Mart established a policy not to carry emergency contraceptives (American Medical Women's Association 1). The major pharmacy that sevices many American women said that it was a "business decision" not to carry emergency contraceptives (AMWA 1). Pharmacist Andy Cocco does not fill any prescriptions for emergency contraceptives, he does not stop anyone from attaining them but avoids getting involved (McCullough 1). Many pharmacist associations have adopted 'conscience-clause' which "affirms pharmacists' rights to refuse to fill prescriptions on moral, ethical or religious grounds." (McCuillough 1). Many believe that by furthering the availability of emergency contraceptives to being sold over the counter would put women at risk physically, psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually (Physician's Weekly 1). Dr. Stewart Jennings questions "who would provide the necessary screening and counseling to a woman who would likely be unaware of the mechanism by which she is preventing or terminating a pregnancy" (Dr. Jennings 1). Dr. Hanna Klaus agrees that over the counter availability for emergency contraceptives is a bad idea. She elaborates that women may suffer from such side effects as prolonged, patternless bleeding, metabolic alterations and emotional upset (Physician's Weekly 1). If emergency contraceptives were available without a prescription who would counsel and advise these women?For the argument that compares emergency contraceptives with abortion they m...
