There are, of course, many forms of courage.

One form, standing on principle, is often under-recognized.

To that end, attention should be paid to Susan F. Wood, until recently assistant commissioner for women's health and director of the Office of Women's Health within the federal Food and Drug Administration.

Wood quit her post after her agency announced it would delay a ruling on whether the so-called "morning-after pill" should be more readily available to women. The delay could amount to years.

There are endless social, political and cultural concerns about the pill. There are those who believe use of the pill amounts to abortion.

But we have a procedure in place to resolve these tricky issues. A professional and scientific review of the matter within the FDA concluded that the pill could be issued, without prescription. When concerns arose about the use of the pill by minors, the manufacturer asked for permission for over-the-counter sales only to those older than 17.

That compromise has now been held up, allegedly because of unusual regulatory problems.

Wood concluded, however, that the issue was not science or regulation, but a political objection to an admittedly hot-button topic.

She quit, she said, to call attention to the FDA's failure to follow even its own internal policies and procedures.

That was a brave thing to do. It is unlikely to change the substance of the matter, given the political climate in Washington today.

But it serves notice that when it comes to basic human health and well-being, there are those in the government who will refuse to let politics override scientific logic and common sense.