A few weeks ago, the Daily reported a federal judge ruled the FDA had 30 days to expand coverage of Plan B, or "the morning-after pill," to 17-year-old women without a doctor’s prescription (the current policy for women 18 and older).

In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Edward Korman stated the expanded coverage should have come much sooner, but FDA officials had responded to political pressure under the Bush administration.

The Associated Press reported today that the FDA had complied with Judge Korman’s ruling, and will approve the request when made by the manufacturer.

“We’re encouraged that it puts women’s health ahead of politics,” Kathi Di Nicola, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, told the Daily last month. “It will help in our fight to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies.”

Critics of the policy believe Plan B is an abortion pill because it can prevent fertilized eggs from implanting and further developing.

Judge Korman’s ruling stirred the following debate within the University:

‘How Plan B really works’ letter to the editor

‘Importance of emergency contraception‘ letter to the editor