I refer to your front page article (October 14) where women requesting the morning after pill were referred to as ‘patients’. These women cannot be considered as patients because they are not sick and are not seeking prevention of disease. Doctors cannot be legally forced to prescribe anything that is not indicated to cure or prevent illness, especially if they consider that such prescription is, or may be, unethical or harmful.

People should know that hormones, like other medications, should not be used indiscriminately because they can cause or facilitate the development of medical problems.

Although given in one sporadic dose this particular hormone is not considered harmful, it can have unpleasant side effects and, if taken repeatedly or frequently, may cause harm.  This is one argument in favour of a doctors’ involvement because frequent,  indiscriminate or uncontrolled use of any drug renders the user an abuser and, as such, a person in need of medical advice and surveillance, that is, a patient.