Colorado Senate Approves Bill That Would Require Hospitals To Offer EC Information to Rape Survivors

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 23 Mar 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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The Colorado Senate on Monday approved 22-13 legislation... (HB 1042) that would require all hospitals in the state to inform sexual assault survivors of the availability of emergency contraception, which can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse, the Colorado Springs Gazette reports (Nguyen, Colorado Springs Gazette, 3/22). The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Betty Boyd (D), would allow health care workers -- but not hospitals -- to refrain from informing women about EC if they are morally opposed to it. However, health care workers with moral or religious objections would be required to refer patients to another health professional who would be willing to discuss EC. Although hospitals would not be exempt from providing EC information, the legislation would allow hospitals to refrain from providing the pills and instead refer women to pharmacies to obtain EC. Currently, hospitals in the state are not required to provide EC information to sexual assault survivors, and some refrain from providing such information (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 1/26). The bill now returns to the state House for approval of "minor" Senate amendments, including an amendment that would specifically exempt health care workers from having to discuss medical abortion with rape survivors, according to the Gazette. Boyd said she will not oppose the changes, which means the bill likely will go to Gov. Bill Owens (R) (Colorado Springs Gazette, 3/22). Dan Hopkins, a spokesperson for Owens, said that Owens has not yet reviewed the measure, the Denver Rocky Mountain News reports (Bartels, Denver Rocky Mountain News, 3/19).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/repro The Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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