Komen Foundation Reversal Against Planned Parenthood and Recall of 1M Packets of Birth Control Pills: What's Going On In Women's Reproductive Health?

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This week has brought some scary, upsetting and surpising news in world of women's health. 

A few days ago Pfizer announced that over 1 million packets of birth control produced by the company were being recalled. Apparently there were both mechanial and visual quality control errors, as some packs were created with too many active tablets and some had too few. In either case, the possible outcome of this error could result in accidental pregnancies. While the recalled packets were not some of the best sellers on the market (14 Lots of Lo?Ovral-28 tablets and 14 lots of generic Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol tablets are the brands recalled), the repercussions are still impossible to understand at this time. Will pregnancies that occur due to this error be the basis for a lawsuit? What kind of public health/legal issue would this have been if it had been one of the top selling birth control brands, in a country where 38.9 million birth control prescriptions were filled in the first 6 months of last year alone?

And while one news story reports the possibility of accidental pregnancies around the country, the other story making headlines ties in the deeply political and ideological conversation surrounding abortion, tied into the saga of Komen Foundation's relationship with Planned Parenthood. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation is one of the leading fundraising entities/organizations involved in education, prevention and treatment in regards to breast cancer, a natural ally with Planned Parenthood for some time due to their shared interest in women's health. However, the Kowen Foundation recently cut its ties with the organization. While the foundation cites a multitude of reasons for the end of the relationship, including a congressional investigation of the organization, many saw it as a decision based on politics and dissent based on Planned Parenthood's relationship with abortion. 

Since the decision, the public and many within the Foundation have protested and petitioned. These voices soon created change and the Susan G Kowen fro the Cure Foundation has reversed its decision to end its relationship with Planned Parenthood. While some rejoice others denounce the reversal. 

Learning Station:
To learn more on which pills are recalled: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm289770.htm.The affected packets have expiration dates ranging between July 31, 2013, and March 31, 2014.