Sebelius contraception ruling a step back
In this article, Sharon Camp expresses her disapproval with the Department of Health and Human Services decision to keep the contraceptive drug Plan-B available only through prescription for girls aged 17 and under.
Various details are used to invalidate Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' authority to overrule the FDA's decision. After stating that the FDA's decision came from "thorough and months-long" review and "expert findings," Camp makes a special effort to point out the fact that Sebelius "is not a scientist and…offered no evidence…bas[ing] her decision on her personal belief that adolescents as young as 11 might not understand how to use emergency contraception." Camp then mentions that other, more-dangerous-if-misused products are available over the counter, adding that Plan-B would primarily be used by girls over the age of 15, therefore refuting the legitimacy of Sebelius' reasoning.
Camp's diction works in such a way so as to amplify the calamity of the situation. She calls Sebelius' actions, particularly those "invok[ing] 11 year-olds" "diversionary" and "inflammatory," suggesting that Sebelius was playing a political game in her decision-making and justification of that decision-making instead of truly concerning herself with the demographic in question. Camp describes the effect as having prolonged a "seemingly endless and unquestionably divisive national abortion debate," using adjectives that again intensify the damage done by Sebelius while also conveying that a decision so small hurt so much more than the opposite decision could have helped.
Throughout the article, Camp uses dashes to interject supplementary details mid sentence. Each instance acts like an aside. In the instance of, "the only groups opposing the FDA's decision were self-styled "pro-family" groups that oppose emergency contraception -- and most other methods of modern contraception -- outright," the way Camp makes her interjection adds to the retrograde sense she's placing on the pro-life interest groups.
