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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 23, 2015 01:01 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Daylin Leach |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Emergency Contraception in the Emergency Room |
| In the near future I am going to be re-introducing legislation that will require hospitals to offer information about the availability of Emergency Contraception to rape victims who come to the hospital for treatment. If after receiving the information, the victim wishes to receive Emergency Contraception, the hospital would be required to provide it. Emergency Contraception is critically important. There is a brief window of opportunity to prevent an unwanted pregnancy after a sexual assault, usually around 72 hours. It is critical that women who have been assaulted and are traumatized, receive accurate information and comprehensive access to medical care. Greater access to Emergency Contraception will spare thousands of women the agony of being impregnated by their rapists each year. It is important to note that Emergency Contraception in not an abortion. It prevents abortion. By acting before an egg is fertilized, it prevents conception and avoids putting the victim in the position of having to consider an abortion should conception occur. I believe this is one of the most important things we can do for victims of violent crime this session. I hope you will consider co-sponsoring this bill. If you have questions about this legislation, please contact my Legislative Director, Jon Tew at jtew@pasenate.com or 610-768-4200. |
Introduced as SB542