Rape victims should be informed of all options
by Terry Musser and Sheldon Wasserman ¦ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ¦ 25 December 2007 Patrick McIlheran's Dec. 19 column perpetuates many myths about the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims' Bill, which would require hospitals to provide sexual assault victims with medically accurate information about emergency contraception and dispense it to them upon request ("Conscience, Plan B: More than a nicety"). As co-sponsors of the bill, we want to set the record straight. Emergency contraception is just that: contraception. It works like regular, daily birth control pills in preventing pregnancy. The vast majority of physicians, including the leading medical organizations in the country, do not believe that birth control pills cause an abortion. There is no medical evidence that emergency contraception ends a pregnancy. A physician's religious beliefs are important, but they can't take the place of science. Instead of worrying about physician's religious views, we need to focus on the women who live through the terrible trauma of rape. Rape victims who were offered emergency contraception talk about the healing effect of being informed about their choice to use emergency contraception. Victims who were not offered emergency contraception said the fear of becoming pregnant as a result of the attack magnified the pain of the assault and deepened their sense of powerlessness. Rape victims deserve to be treated compassionately and to be told about all medical options after an assault, including the prevention of an unwanted, unintended pregnancy. The care a victim receives after rape should not be dependent on what hospital she ends up in or the religious views of the physician at the emergency room. McIlheran implies that emergency contraception is readily available. Unfortunately, studies show that most Wisconsin hospitals do not routinely provide rape victims with emergency contraception. The truth is that many women still don't know about it. There are physicians who testified that they would not tell rape victims about emergency contraception or even pick up the phone to have another physician do so. Women who have just been raped shouldn't have to know what questions to ask or be expected to shop around for emergency contraception. The bill is straightforward: It simply requires that hospitals provide rape victims with the minimum standard of care as required by the American Medical Association. The bill does not mention individual health care providers; it places the obligation on the hospital. Not one hospital in the state opposes the bill. Compassionate care for rape victims is not a partisan issue. More than 82% of Wisconsin voters support providing rape victims with emergency contraception in emergency rooms. The Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill, without amendments, on a 27-6 bipartisan vote. The bottom line is this: Rape victims should have access to the medical treatment that is right for them. We are committed to honoring the courage of these victims by passing the Compassionate Care Bill this legislative session. State Rep. Terry Musser (R-Melrose) represents the 92nd Assembly District. State Rep. Sheldon Wasserman (D-Milwaukee) represents the 22nd Assembly District.
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