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Does Approval of "Morning-after" Pill Mean Change at FDA?

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Three years of controversy over the "morning-after" pill have damaged the credibility of the Food and Drug Administration. Are crucial decisions based on science or politics and religion? Have wealthy drug companies and other special interests compromised the protection of public health and welfare?  Plus, a "credible force" for peacekeeping in southern Lebanon, and the State Department investigates Israel's use of  American-made cluster bombs in Lebanon in violation of a secret agreement with the US.


Making News

Europe to Provide More than Half of UN Lebanon Force ()


UN Secretary General Kofi Annan says a "credible force" can now be sent to southern Lebanon with Europe agreeing to provide almost half the 15,000 soldiers. Marc Champion is reporting from Brussels for the Wall Street Journal.

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Main Topic

Does Approval of Morning-After Pill Mean Change at FDA? ()

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The mission of the Food and Drug Administration is protection of public health and welfare. To accomplish that, the agency regulates no less than one-fourth of all consumer products sold in the United States. Despite the agency's approval yesterday to sell the "morning-after" pill over the counter, controversy over the FDA will go on for a long time. Religious conservatives claim the pill invites promiscuity and sexually transmitted disease. Women's rights advocates don't like the age limit of 18. We hear those arguments and look at the broader debate about FDA's ability to protect public health and welfare. Are its decisions based on science or religion and ideology? Is it a captive of the wealthy and powerful interests it's supposed to monitor and control?

Guests:
  • Susan Wood: Former Assistant Commissioner for Women's Health at the FDA
  • Wendy Wright: Senior Policy Director for Concerned Women for America
  • Sidney Wolfe: Director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group
  • John "Jack" Calfee: Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute
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Reporter's Notebook

State Department Investigates Israel's Use of US-Made Cluster Bombs ()


Israel says all the weapons it fired in southern Lebanon were legal and used according to international standards, but the UN reports that cluster bombs are littering hundreds of homes and gardens even though they're prohibited against civilian targets. The State Department confirms it's investigating the use of the bombs, some of which might have been sold to Israel by the US. A shipment of cluster-type artillery rockets is being held up. Michael O'Hanlon is a military analyst at the Brookings Institution.

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Transcripts of To the Point are available from The Transcription Company, (818) 848-6500, or www.transcripts.net. A CD copy is available by calling 1.888.600.5279

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