EC in the ER Signed into Law!!!!
Planned Parenthood press release,
March 21, 2005
Earlier today, Acting Governor Richard J. Codey signed legislation that would require health care facilities to provide compassionate and comprehensive medical care to survivors of sexual assault.
This new law requires health care facilities providing care to sexual assault victims to provide information about emergency contraception and the contraceptives upon request.
Be sure to check out www.plannedparenthoodnj.org
in the next few days for articles about the bill signing and pictures from this event.
Special thanks to the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Acting Governor Richard Codey, Senator Shirley Turner (D15), Senator Joseph Vitale (D19), Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D15), Assemblyman Neil Cohen (D20), Assemblyman John McKeon, Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D19) and the many supporters who helped pass this important law.
Background Information on Emergency Contraception:
Emergency contraception (EC) is the best way to prevent pregnancy in cases of rape, incest, or contraceptive failure.
EC is a special combination of birth control pills that can reduce the risk of pregnancy up to 120 hours after unprotected sex.
EC prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation, fertilization, or implantation.
It will not cause an abortion. EC is FDA approved for being safe and effective.
After a sexual assault, the survivor will now not have to worry about whether the hospital at which she seeks treatment will offer this basic medicine.
A consistent policy requiring hospitals that treat sexual assault survivors to also provide information and access to EC could help ease the post-trauma experiences of rape survivors.
As always, visit www.plannedparenthoodnj.org
for more information on these issues and more.
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