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Women's Rights
What's New? - Archive
WomenMatter will continuously post updates on all this and other issues as we monitor the continuing philosophical and practical debates nationwide.
Please check back often for updates. Past updates are available for reference on the Women's Rights Archives page.
Since Women's Rights is in many ways an umbrella issue, WomenMatter will highlight related updates from other Life Issue areas here:
Do you C.A.R.E.? Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims
During the summer of 2003, both the Senate and the House of Representatives introduced the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act (CARE). CARE is a bipartisan attempt to provide rape victims with emergency contraception.
Jim Greenwood (R-PA) introduced CARE (HR 2527) to the House in June, and in August, Jon Corzine (D-NJ) introduced the bill to the Senate. The Senate bill is currently in the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
CARE
An estimated 25,000 to 32,000 women become pregnant each year as a result of rape or incest. Around 22,000 of these pregnancies could be prevented if rape survivors had timely access to emergency contraception.
The bill requires any hospital that receives federal funds to make emergency contraception available to survivors of sexual assault. Studies show that 9 out of 10 women aren’t aware of emergency contraception, so rape survivors are unlikely to ask for the pill themselves. Currently, it is not routine procedure for health care providers to counsel victims on the benefits of emergency contraception.
Under this new law, health care workers would be required to explain the details of emergency contraception in clear and concise language. If the patient wants it, they must offer it promptly, regardless of her ability to pay.
What is emergency contraception?
Emergency contraception, commonly called the morning-after pill, is a large dose of birth control. It is 95% effective when taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex. According to Planned Parenthood, emergency contraception continues to reduce the risk of pregnancy when taken within 120 hours of unprotected sex. Therefore, the term “morning-after pill" is false and misleading.
Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy by delaying ovulation, or the fertilization or implantation of the egg. According to Congress’ findings, emergency contraception does not cause an abortion.
The Food and Drug Administration has declared Emergency Contraception to be safe and effective.
Emergency contraception reduces the number of abortions
Congress reported that 50% of women who become pregnant due to rape or incest choose to have an abortion. Many of these pregnancies and thus, abortions, could have been prevented with emergency contraception.
Planned parenthood states that emergency contraception could prevent 1.7 million unwanted pregnancies and 800,000 abortions each year if it were more readily available.
Some members of Congress may be hesitant to pass the CARE Act
CARE will cost money. Providing training and emergency contraception to hospitals will require federal spending. With the national deficit raging out of control, many representatives are likely to vote “no" on CARE because they want to cut spending.
In addition, some voters are against emergency contraception. They may pressure their representatives to vote against CARE because they feel that any contraception interferes with the natural process of life. Even in cases of rape and incest, some people believe that pregnancy should not be prevented.
What do you think? Discuss this issue with other WomenMatter readers through our online forums. You can also contact your representative and let him or her know if you support CARE.
Article Posted on: 9/19/2003
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