Yesterday, the AMA approved recommendations regarding greater access to emergency contraception pills (ECPs). Two brand names for emergency contraceptive pills are Preven and Plan B.

In addition to reaffirming current AMA policy that holds that no physician or other professional personnel should be required to perform an act that violates personally held moral principles, the AMA passed new policies to encourage physicians to play a more active role in providing education about access to ECPs. The new policies also direct the AMA to intensify efforts to improve awareness and understanding about the drugs and to enhance efforts to expand access to them, including making them more available through hospitals, clinics, emergency rooms, acute care centers, and physicians’ offices.