Issues about women are not always "feminist" issues

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/21/sunday-review/is-it-time-for-off-the-shelf-birth-control-pills.html?partner=rss&buffer_share=7dd1d&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer%253A%252BRabidFeminist%252Bon%252Btwitter

This article is really poorly argued, and the opposing side is not represented well at all (instead, it is straw-manned). The article states that gynecologists are divided, and then simply dismisses those who are concerned as "unknowledgeable". Bull. Gynecologists HAVE to know about the safety and risks of medication THAT THEY PRESCRIBE. They are liable for this--i.e., they can get sued by a patient otherwise. What a complete facepalm moment.

The risk in changing BC to over-the-counter IS the health concerns, which this article just completely neglects (and even misrepresents). E.g., certain types of BC DO have a significant chance of raising BP, and can raise it to dangerous levels-- this is why women with hypertension have to be really careful in taking it. (So no, it's not safer than Sudafed, what a ludicrous claim). And given that people are not always aware of their conditions and that these conditions develop randomly at some point, it is still wisest for them to see a dr before taking medication. And pharmacists are not drs. They cannot diagnose or even discern whether a woman has some kind of condition (hypertension) which is something that has to be established through lab tests, normally.

Do people not remember all the class-action lawsuits against various types of birth control that happened a few years ago? (http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/lawsuit/yasmin-side-effects-yaz-blood.html#.UYJ9A8r472M)

I think the better thing to do is keep BC as a prescripted medication, but perhaps make the dr's visit free, since that seems to be the real trouble. Everyone should go to a doctor yearly anyway, which is why we should just have free universal health-care, but that's "socialism"...