There is an interesting dynamic at play that I never thought of. As Ms. Grason points out, “Most women in college are sufficiently informed about contraception.” Indeed, it is a fair bet, that they are better informed than the general populace. While, of course, non-preachy, accurate information about sex and STDs is always helpful, college health departments should continue to treat students like adults. Adults generally don’t get lectures when they get pills.

Larry, at 9:10 am EDT on August 28, 2006

Health Ed at the U

It’s a good move to provide students with more information than less, and having worked as an RN at a university health clinic (in my past life before I took a Ph.D. in the humanities), I think it is a mistake to assume that college age women are well informed about birth control. Some certainly are, others are clearly not. I don’t know of any student health system that would prescribe birth control pills, for instance, and not provide information on all of the forms of birth control available, how they work, and (most importantly) what to do if you screw up.

Health education is an important part of the health care process. Unless you’re receiving very poor healthcare, you should be getting information from your doctor AND pharmacist about the drugs you are prescribed. It’s not a matter of treating college students as children, as implied in the comment above, but as autonomous adults who have the right to know what drug they’re taking, what it does and does not do, and how to respond if something doesn’t go as expected. Taking Plan B is not like taking Tylenol. For many women, this may be the first time they’ve had a birth control failure, and having a health care professional to consult can be a valuable resource.

The Untenured Observer, at 10:25 am EDT on August 28, 2006

Respect Women and their Rights!

I was amazed this week to hear a spokeperson for the Family Research Council make the absurd claim that women are not intelligent enough to follow the directions for the use of Plan B! It was the poor exposition of even a poorer argument. How this organization, a radical pro-life group funded by (among others), Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church gained the credibility to even be on C-Span amazed me. But I’ve noticed a lot of new organizations and think tanks coming into play over the past few years. It seems the Bush administration, committed to an ultra social conservative-fundamentalist agenda, employees the advice of many newly emerged parallel institutions that are pledged to his party’s ideology. So the AMA is not consulted. But the far less qualified Family Research Council is. And that gives them the extra splash they need to get on C-Span. Yes. As one poster has said, “I don’t know where this world is headed, but I don’t like.” No. I don’t either. Not at all.

Diogenes, Secret at Even More secret, at 11:25 am EDT on August 28, 2006

what lawsuits?

Melissa, What lawsuits are you talking about?

While it is the fad to send out press releases regarding “lawsuit abuse” most of these press releases involves lawsuits which were dismissed for failure to state a claim, not actually brought, or were facially sufficient, and after a contested trial resulted in a verdict against the press-release writer. Indeed, my old firm would do this, and despite being economic with the facts, nobody ever questioned them. Quite frankly, I am amazed that as an academic, you would rely on such 3d-hand information, rather than directing us to published decisions.

The standard of care for nurses and doctors in administering birth control (or whatever the kids are calling “Plan B” these days) is rather well-known, and if an RN or similar administrator doesn’t cut any corners, and asks all the normal questions, and provides the correct warnings, there will be no successful lawsuits against colleges. Whatever the case, colleges, and everyone else should know, that if they are going to provide medical care, they sure as heck better provide it in line with the standards that people outside the college can expect.

Larry, at 1:15 pm EDT on August 28, 2006

If you ask, and they answer, it is a conversation. If they answer, without being asked, and tell you about the evils of sex, it is a lecture. But, quite frankly, men rarely get lectured on the evils of sex.

LArry, at 11:00 pm EDT on August 28, 2006