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  • SATURDAY AUGUST 21 2004 11:04 AM

Hospitals Refuse Emergency Contraception

Submitted by Christopher

Edited by Christopher

When a woman is raped, one of the options she has when she goes to the emergency room is emergency contraception like “Plan B”, but it must be taken within 72 hour of the crime to be effective. When a student at the University of California, Riverside was viciously raped last November, her friends took her to the E.R. where the nurse refused to give her emergency contraception.

Minton is not the only woman experiencing nightmarish problems getting access to emergency contraception, a combination of drugs that can prevent pregnancy if taken soon after sex. New state laws are giving hospitals, nurses, doctors and pharmacists the right to refuse to offer emergency contraception.

Some are refusing because they see it as abortion, which is against their principles. But because these policies are rarely publicized – and sometimes there is no official policy and decisions are left to doctors or pharmacists – it is hard for women seeking EC to know who will help them and who won't. Trouble is, delays can make EC too late to be effective. […]

At Catholic hospitals, the situation is grave. Of the 597 Catholic hospitals in the U.S., only 167 offered emergency contraception to women who have been raped. Groups like the Christian Coalition, American Life League, and Pharmacists for Life believe that offering emergency contraception is a form of abortion even when a Vatican directive clearly states that emergency contraception can be offered to women who have been raped.

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Comments
Wren

Wren

SUICIDEGIRL

Minnesota, USA

AUG 21, 2004 10:53 AM

This doesn't surprise me, but still.

What. The. Fuck. mad

68stretch

68stretch

Portland, OR
March 2003

AUG 21, 2004 10:53 AM

Doctors have the right to dictate to you how you should live your life..... if they're conservative pro-life doctors.

dem_z

dem_z

United Kingdom
June 2004

AUG 21, 2004 10:59 AM

Can't you buy 'the morning after pill' over the counter over there?

Fuck, I think they give it out in some schools over here.

Don't take this personally, but the USs attitude to sex education, birth control and abortion is FUCKED UP.

Neyrissa

Neyrissa

SUICIDEGIRL

United Kingdom

AUG 21, 2004 10:59 AM

Bloody hell, that's just WRONG!

Cigarette

Cigarette

Cleveland, OH
April 2004

AUG 21, 2004 11:00 AM

demetrius_z said:
Don't take this personally, but the USs attitude to sex education, birth control and abortion is FUCKED UP.



Yes, what with America's monolithic single perspective on all issues.

dem_z

dem_z

United Kingdom
June 2004

AUG 21, 2004 11:02 AM

Cigarette said:

demetrius_z said:
Don't take this personally, but the USs attitude to sex education, birth control and abortion is FUCKED UP.



Yes, what with America's monolithic single perspective on all issues.



OK, I could do with some help on the wording.

But, if the Us has such diverse views how come the US has the highest rate (out of the industrial nations) of teenage pregnancy and teenage birth ? wink smile

Christopher

Christopher

Portland, OR
November 2002

AUG 21, 2004 11:03 AM

Paging Dr. Killy McKillkill, Dr. Killy McKillkill to the front desk.

Wren

Wren

SUICIDEGIRL

Minnesota, USA

AUG 21, 2004 11:04 AM

demetrius_z said:
Can't you buy 'the morning after pill' over the counter over there?



The Senate discussed making the morning after pill OTC about three months ago, I think, but they decided to table the issue for now because they found it to be too touchy. It's retarded, because the morning after pill certainly would prevent a LOT of abortions, and isn't that what they want? Ugh. whatever

dem_z

dem_z

United Kingdom
June 2004

AUG 21, 2004 11:08 AM

Cigarette said:

demetrius_z said:
Don't take this personally, but the USs attitude to sex education, birth control and abortion is FUCKED UP.



Yes, what with America's monolithic single perspective on all issues.




Further stoking the fires of controversy is the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act (S.1564/HR.2527), re-introduced earlier this year in Congress, that would require emergency rooms in all states to provide EC to women in cases of sexual assault.



Why does this say "in cases of sexual assault" and not "on demand"? Because the USs attitude to sex-ed, birth control and abortion is fucked up, that's why.

turin

turin

Denver, CO
October 2003

AUG 21, 2004 11:09 AM

well it's not like we can force nurses to go against their beliefs. I guess education is the answer. of course, many people (some of them congressmen and presidents) would have you believe that sex-ed is evil. I'm not sure what to do about that.

dem_z

dem_z

United Kingdom
June 2004

AUG 21, 2004 11:09 AM

Wren said:

demetrius_z said:
Can't you buy 'the morning after pill' over the counter over there?



The Senate discussed making the morning after pill OTC about three months ago, I think, but they decided to table the issue for now because they found it to be too touchy. It's retarded, because the morning after pill certainly would prevent a LOT of abortions, and isn't that what they want? Ugh. whatever



You're right. It's baffling. What's really disappointing is that there must be some women who support the supression of morning after contraception. frown

Belllla

Belllla

Houston, TX
February 2004

AUG 21, 2004 11:09 AM

demetrius_z said:
Can't you buy 'the morning after pill' over the counter over there?

Fuck, I think they give it out in some schools over here.

Don't take this personally, but the USs attitude to sex education, birth control and abortion is FUCKED UP.



I think you're preaching to the choir.

dem_z

dem_z

United Kingdom
June 2004

AUG 21, 2004 11:13 AM

coughee said:
well it's not like we can force nurses to go against their beliefs.



What the hell? Why the fuck not? They're nurses, they don't get to pick and chose who they nurse.

They might not like the lifestyle someone leads, they have no moral right to refuse treatment just because they think it's wrong.

Where does that stop? Nurses not treating junkies? People who crash their cars while drunk? Smokers? Blacks? Jews?

apesamongus

apesamongus

Atlanta, GA
July 2002

AUG 21, 2004 11:20 AM

coughee said:
well it's not like we can force nurses to go against their beliefs.



Oh, yes we can. Imagine a nurse who said "I won't treat ni**ers." That would quickly be a new job on the market. They either do what they are legally told, or they find a job with less social relevence.

YUSHi

YUSHi

United Kingdom
May 2004

AUG 21, 2004 11:21 AM

That's just unbeliveble... if that where here in UK the outrage would be so intense that the local health authority responsible for the hospital would be in a whole new world of absolute shit. Goverment officals would be handing out p45 forms like there was no tomorrow.

[Edited on Aug 21, 2004 11:21AM]

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