Originally published December 18 2005
Massachusetts to exempt private hospitals from emergency contraception laws
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Paul Cote Jr. made the decision to exempt private hospitals, including those operated by Roman Catholics, from laws requiring hospitals to make morning-after pills available to rape victims.
The state's health commissioner plans to allow Roman Catholic and other private hospitals to be exempt from a new law making the "morning-after" pill available to rape victims, a decision likely to trigger a legal challenge.
"We feel very clearly that the two laws don't cancel each other out, and basically work in harmony with each other," Cote said.
"Rape victims shouldn't have to worry about the affiliation of a hospital when they go to an emergency room or are brought there by an ambulance to receive necessary care," said Angus McQuilken, public affairs director for Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.
Reilly's aides would not elaborate on whether the attorney general would defend the ruling if it is challenged.
The emergency contraception pill is a high dose of hormones that women can take up to five days after sex to prevent pregnancy.
Opponents who believe life begins at conception contend the pill is little different from an abortion because it blocks the fertilized egg from being implanted on the uterine wall.
Supporters said the Republican governor was attempting to appeal to conservative voters outside Massachusetts ahead of a possible 2008 presidential run.
Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said the governor supports exempting church-run hospitals and other institutions because it "respects the views of health care facilities that are guided by moral principles on this issue."
Caritas Christi Health Care issued a statement saying its policy mirrors the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on care for victims of sexual assault, which includes providing emergency contraception to female patients who are not already pregnant.
Seven other states with emergency contraception laws require all hospitals to provide it to rape victims, and none of them exempt hospitals opposed to providing contraception or abortions.
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