Morning After Pill for Rape Victims

[Accountable]

I thought the morning after pill prevented pregnancy, not caused spontaneous abortions. Am I wrong?

Also, how can the state force these actions on private hospitals?


Massachusetts Gov. Romney Won't Issue Morning After Pill Exemption
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 8, 2005

Boston, MA (LifeNews.com) -- Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has reversed himself on whether he will issue an exemption for Catholic and private hospitals that don't want to be forced to distribute the morning after pill to rape victims. The state legislature approved a bill backed by abortion advocates mandating that all state hospitals must make the Plan B drugs, which sometimes cause an abortion, available to women who have been raped.
Catholic and other religious and private hospitals that have moral beliefs against the drug, objected.
Romney on Wednesday indicated the state health department would issue an exemption to such hospitals because state law also mandates that they can't be forced to perform abortions or distribute contraception.
But Romney said Thursday that his legal advisors reviewed the matter after his idea came under attack from lawmakers and pro-abortion groups. He said is legal counsel told him the new law supersedes the old one.
"On that basis I have instructed the Department of Public Health to follow the conclusion of my own legal counsel and to adopt that sounder view," Romney said, according to an AP report.
The new law will go into effect on December 14 and Attorney General Tom Reilly, a Democrat who is running for governor next year, said he would make sure it's strongly enforced against all hospitals.
Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom previously said the governor supports exempting Catholic and private hospitals because it "respects the views of health care facilities that are guided by moral principles on this issue."
Seven other states that have laws forcing hospitals to dispense the Plan B drugs do not have exemptions for religious facilities.

Printed from: http://www.lifenews.com/state1315.html

Honestly, I'm not trying to be a smart aleck, but "morning AFTER pill" describes it pretty well.

It isn't a good substitute for using birth control (the kind you use before sex) but in the case of a rape victim, I think its a very good idea. And the Catholic church needs to get its nose out of people's business unless its requested.

[nvalleyvee]

The morning after pill prevents conception from implanting in the uterus. Basically it makes the uterus TOXIC. Rape victims of all kinds should be allowed this pill - THEY HAD NO CHOICE IN CONCEPTION!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Accountable

Also, how can the state force these actions on private hospitals?

The same way the state says that certain sects of the Mormon Church cannot practice poligamy. They are in essence, disallowing the belief in order to enforce whatever law is on the books.

[Accountable]

Originally Posted by JAB

The same way the state says that certain sects of the Mormon Church cannot practice poligamy. They are in essence, disallowing the belief in order to enforce whatever law is on the books.

Not the same thing. Polygamy has been declared illegal; opposition to abortion has not.

I'm not from MA (too cold) but I would expect that there aren't many, if any, private hospitals not within driving distance of a public hospital. To force them to spend money on something against their doctrine, when there are options ....

[abbey]

I dont know about the States, but here in the UK the morning after pill can be bought over the counter.
If the chemist does'nt agree with it, ie religious beliefs, then he does'nt have to sell itor administor it on prescription, he'll re-direct you to another chemist.

[Valerie100]

When I was a teenager, I knew an 18-year-old who was gang raped. She ended up having a baby boy from the ordeal. This was back in the 80's. She said that once she felt the baby growing inside of her, she couldn't part with it. Her biggest concern and issue that she was dealing with was how was she going to tell her son that he was the product of a gang rape.

I'm all for the Morning After Pill for rape victims, but I think that it should be up to the woman if she wants to take it, or not.

Originally Posted by Accountable

I thought the morning after pill prevented pregnancy, not caused spontaneous abortions. Am I wrong?

Also, how can the state force these actions on private hospitals?


Massachusetts Gov. Romney Won't Issue Morning After Pill Exemption
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 8, 2005

Boston, MA (LifeNews.com) -- Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has reversed himself on whether he will issue an exemption for Catholic and private hospitals that don't want to be forced to distribute the morning after pill to rape victims. The state legislature approved a bill backed by abortion advocates mandating that all state hospitals must make the Plan B drugs, which sometimes cause an abortion, available to women who have been raped.
Catholic and other religious and private hospitals that have moral beliefs against the drug, objected.
Romney on Wednesday indicated the state health department would issue an exemption to such hospitals because state law also mandates that they can't be forced to perform abortions or distribute contraception.
But Romney said Thursday that his legal advisors reviewed the matter after his idea came under attack from lawmakers and pro-abortion groups. He said is legal counsel told him the new law supersedes the old one.
"On that basis I have instructed the Department of Public Health to follow the conclusion of my own legal counsel and to adopt that sounder view," Romney said, according to an AP report.
The new law will go into effect on December 14 and Attorney General Tom Reilly, a Democrat who is running for governor next year, said he would make sure it's strongly enforced against all hospitals.
Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom previously said the governor supports exempting Catholic and private hospitals because it "respects the views of health care facilities that are guided by moral principles on this issue."
Seven other states that have laws forcing hospitals to dispense the Plan B drugs do not have exemptions for religious facilities.

Printed from: http://www.lifenews.com/state1315.html

I would assume it is now considered part of 'emergency' treatment, which all hopitals must provide regardless of a patients ability to pay. Or because private institutions are reguired to follow state law if they are receiving state funds.

But that's just a guess..

As for the abortion question...if a woman were unknowingly pregnant or even knowingly pregnant and took the pill, the pregnancy would likely abort. But I think that is most likely early on...need to ask someone with medical knowledge to be sure...I'm just going on info that came out back when it first started being talked about.

[czar]

I think this is a great emergency treatment and all woman should have the option to use it. I'm not sure but I think that it has to be taken within 48hrs it happens. If a hospital gets funding from the government than I think that they should be made to carry it if they want you to, if they don't want to than I guess they don't want the government funding.

[Accountable]

Originally Posted by czar

I think this is a great emergency treatment and all woman should have the option to use it. I'm not sure but I think that it has to be taken within 48hrs it happens. If a hospital gets funding from the government than I think that they should be made to carry it if they want you to, if they don't want to than I guess they don't want the government funding.

I'm comfortable with that. I'm not comfortable with forcing a private hospital to provide it anyway. However, I will grudgingly allow that private hospitals in remote areas can't have that protection, and can be required to provide the drug.

Welcome, Czar. Give us an Intro thread.