USA Today Examines Practice Of Billing Rape Survivors For Medical Exams In Wasilla While Palin Was Mayor

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Health Insurance / Medical Insurance;  Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 12 Sep 2008 - 5:00 PST

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Rape survivors in Wasilla, Alaska were billed for forensic medical examinations when Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin was mayor of the town, USA Today reports.

According to USA Today, when state lawmakers in 2000 learned that some police departments were charging survivors or their insurance companies for the medical exams, they quickly passed a law banning the practice, sponsored by former state Rep. Eric Croft (D). An advocate for rape survivors, Lauree Hugonign, told state House committees that several survivors had complained about being charged for the exams, including in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, where Wasilla is located.

After the measure was approved, then-Wasilla Police Chief Charlie Fannon was quoted in the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman as saying, "In the past, we've charged the cost of exams to the victims' insurance company when possible," adding, "I just don't want to see any more burden put on the taxpayer." USA Today reports that it is unknown how many rape survivors in Wasilla were required to pay for some or all of the exams. Peggy Wilcox, an Alaskan legislative staffer who worked on the legislation for Croft, said, "It was more than a couple of cases, and it was standard practice in Wasilla."

Palin spokesperson Maria Comella would not answer questions about when Palin learned of Wasilla's policy or whether she tried to change it, USA Today reports. Palin "does not believe, nor has she ever believed, that rape victims should have to pay for an evidence-gathering test," Comella said in an e-mail, adding, "To suggest otherwise is a deliberate misrepresentation of her commitment to supporting victims and bringing violent criminals to justice."

Former Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles (D), who signed the rape examination measure in 2000 and was defeated by Palin in the 2006 gubernatorial race, said, "It seems like one of those pieces of legislation that you can't imagine it would ever have to be written." According to USA Today, Wasilla officials have not yet responded to a public records request regarding the city's policy on the exams (Dilanian/Kelley, USA Today, 9/11).

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