Pennsylvania Commission Adopts Rules Requiring Hospitals To Provide EC To Rape Survivors Or Apply For Exemption

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Litigation / Medical Malpractice;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 23 Oct 2007 - 6:00 PDT

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Pennsylvania's Independent Regulatory Review Commission on Thursday adopted regulations proposed by the state Department of Health that will require hospitals in the state to provide access to emergency contraception to rape survivors, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. According to officials from the Health Department, hospitals can apply for an exemption due to religious or moral objections but must inform rape survivors of the availability of EC.

Joanne Corte Grossi, deputy secretary for health promotion and disease prevention at the Health Department, said the state cannot implement stricter restrictions because of laws governing health care facilities and religious freedom. The regulations must be reviewed by the state attorney general's office, but no objections are expected, health department officials said.

Larry Frankel, legislative director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, said that "more work needs to be done to make sure that every [survivor] of rape is given the complete care that she should get as a matter of course." He added, "It should not matter which hospital she goes to, because she doesn't get to choose that. There are better ways of accommodating those with religious objections." State Rep. Daylin Leach (D) -- sponsor of a bill pending in the Legislature that would implement tougher restrictions on hospitals regardless of religious affiliation -- said, "When you start talking about transporting a woman who has been raped, it's very problematic." He asked, "If this was your daughter ... would you want that for her?" (Couloumbis, Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/19).

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