America - Sandra Fluke Episode

It can be Brit, for instance in the case of polycystic ovary syndrome. If you google Sandra Fluke and watch her actual testimony, you will see that this is primarily the example she gives as to why this type of medication should be covered.

Reproductive health medications are also relevant in the treatment of rape victims - should they be excluded in that case also?

My own personal opinion is with you - if the drug is being used for personal, choice-related purposes it should not be covered.

Equally, smokers and drinkers should be denied medical insurance if their ill health can be directly traced back to their lifestyle choices. Just as people who don't wear seatbelts don't deserve to be admitted to the trauma ward after being involved in an accident. That too is a personal choice with a negative outcome.

If we demand personal responsibility on the part of sexually active women, we ought to demand it from everyone else as well

:o)

I would disagree, since it's not a medication to counter an illness..

Of course! It's a prescription med!

Mandi

What is your view. Should contraception be covered by private insurance which is usually funded by the employer ?

Birth control has nothing to do with politics or the government. We're talking about whether or not private insurance covers contraception as it covers viagra.

Mandi

Indeed britexpat.

Smoking is a personal choice too that results in negative health outcomes - should that be on the agenda for discussion too?

I'm not taking a side either way on this issue.

All I want to say is that by ignoring the actual policy issue and the merit of including/excluding contraception, and instead shouting SLUT! and PROSTITUTE! everyone stopped talking about healthcare and insurance, and instead focused on Limbaugh's choice of words.

Consequently who came out of this with their reputation intact? Sandra, who chose her words carefully, or Rush, who has had to apologise and has lost half a dozen sponsors?

This is why we should leave policy debate up to those who wish to offer thoughtful, reasoned and frank assessments, rather than shock jocks.

Leaving aside the politics, I am amazed that such a proposal should even be considered. Surely birth control is a personal issue and nothing to do with government or employer.

In a rare move for the conservative radio host, Rush Limbaugh has apologised to the Georgetown University law school student he called a "slut" and "prostitute" last week.

The apology, posted to his website, said he did not mean to make a "personal attack" against Sandra Fluke. The third-year law student had recently testified before Democrats in favour of US President Barack Obama's new rule requiring employers to offer health insurance plans that cover birth control.

"My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir," he wrote. "I sincerely apologise to Ms Fluke for the insulting word choices."

Britexpat - I felt the same actually. The fact that she has become somwwhat of a celebrity overnight is making me think of a bigger plot.Letssee where this ends up.

The right wing side of American politics is showing itself to be out of touch and just generally outrageous. No nuance to any debate, simply hurling around emotive terms to get media attention.

Very immature way of discussing policy and issues of importance.

Limbaugh will need to apologise if he doesn't want to further isolate the Republicans from the mainstream.

Sad that she is being used by the left and right to garner votes. I personally believe that Limbaugh was wrong in the words he used and should apologise.

election gimmicks..

Its beoming an increasingly heated debate and is spiralling into all sorts of dimensions ranging from gender,class to even color. Strange!