Emergency Contraception Law
In 2005, Massachusetts became the 8th state in the nation to improve access to EC. Emergency contraception (EC) has tremendous untapped potential for reducing unintended pregnancy. Almost half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended. Half of those unplanned pregnancies end in abortion. EC has enormous potential to dramatically reduce unintended pregnancy. The Emergency Contraception Law requires hospital emergency rooms ro make EC available to rape suvivors and allow pharmacists to dispense EC through a collaborative agreement with a physician. The following states have passed similar legislation: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maine, New Mexico, New Hampshire, and Washington. Click here for more information about Emergency Contraception from the Massachusetts EC Network.
What is Emergency Contraception?
What does the bill do?
The bill requires hospital emergency rooms to make emergency contraception available to rape survivors. The bill also allows pharmacists to dispense emergency contraception, through a collaborative agreement with a physician. Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maine, New Mexico, New Hampshire, and Washington have passed similar legislation.
Should a woman be able to get EC directly from a pharmacist, without first visiting a doctor?
Who endorsed the bill? Boston Public Health Commission; Jane Doe, Inc., The Mass. Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence; Mass. ACOG - American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Mass. Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians; Mass. Coalition for Choice; Mass. Board of Registration in Pharmacy; Mass. Family Planning Association; Mass. Independent Pharmacists Association; Mass. Medical Society; Mass Pharmacists Association; Mass. Public Health Association, Tapestry Health; Women’s Bar Association |
