What do these have in common?
 Lemons... Honey... Peach pits... Animal intestines... Dates... and Sea Sponges... They were used as birth control in 1800s.
Thankfully, times have changed….or have they?
It’s clear that people had funny notions about contraception in the 1800s.  Unfortunately, while medical science has progressed significantly since that time, our statute books have not always kept pace, leaving women’s health vulnerable. That’s why, during National Women’s Health Week (May 10-16, 2009), the Massachusetts Coalition for Choice is promoting An Act Relative to Updating the Public Health Laws, sponsored by Senator Harriette Chandler and Representative Ellen Story. This priority bill would bring our public health policy up to date by removing three obsolete, unconstitutional laws from the books.
Currently, despite the Commonwealth’s commitment to promoting public health and improving access to medical care, Massachusetts law still contains an antiquated provision completely banning the distribution of birth control to unmarried people. Massachusetts is also one of only four states in the nation with a law dating back to the 1800s that outlaws all abortions.
 Although in direct conflict with Roe v. Wade, this statute has never been repealed by the legislature, and its continued presence offends basic constitutional principles – and basic public health policy – that we hold dear. Finally, another outdated provision would require abortions after the twelfth week of pregnancy to be performed in hospitals – effectively banning much of this care across the Commonwealth. Massachusetts should retire these old statutes to the dustbin of history where they belong and bring our state law into line with good policy and contemporary public health standards.
If your legislators did not co-sponsor An Act Relative to Updating the Public Health Laws, please call and urge them to support this bill (617-722-2000).
If your legislators did sign on as co-sponsors, please call and thank them (617-722-2000).
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