by Andrew Beckett ¦ Wisconsin Radio Network ¦ 1 May 2008

A statewide coalition wants to make sure compassionate care is making its way into hospital emergency rooms.

A state law that took effect in March requires hospitals to tell rape victims about emergency contraceptives and to make the drugs available if requested. However, there are some concerns about compliance in some hospitals, which may not have changed their policies yet to reflect the new law.

Sara Finger with the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Coalition says the group is sending out toolkits to hospitals around the state. They're intended to remind them about the new law and offer tips on how to apply it. The kit includes sample policies from hospitals that made EC available before the new law and explains what is required of hospitals under the requirement.

Finger believes hospitals will eventually comply, but they'll be checking up on them. A survey conducted by the group in 2006 found only a third of emergency rooms in the state made EC available to rape victims.