MORNING AFTER PILL . . . A WELL-KEPT SECRET

Few patients seem to know that morning-after birth control pills are a safe, legal and effective way to interrupt potential pregnancies, according to two studies released today by the non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation. The main reasons: doctors are not recommending them to patients, and drug makers are not advertising them as after-the-fact birth control for fear of apolitical backlash from abortion opponents. The foundation surveyed 270 women and 300 ob/gyns. In order to educate the public about the availability of the treatment, a small group of health care professionals are planning to post a list on the Internet of 1,477 doctors who are willing to prescribe the pills.