Opinion: Letter
EC protects rape victims
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On March 13, 2008, Wisconsin Act 102 was signed into effect
by Gov. Jim Doyle. The act, better known as the Compassionate Care for Rape
Victims Act, requires all emergency rooms in the state of
The Bush administration’s justification for expanding the current law is based on a belief that emergency contraception, also known as Plan B or the morning-after pill, can trigger an abortion. However, emergency contraception will not cause an abortion or harm the fetus of a pregnant woman. EC contains two doses of a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone. When taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, the increase in progesterone may cause a delay in ovulation. In some cases, the hormone will cause the uterine lining to change in a way that will not allow the egg to implant. Emergency contraception, like other hormonal birth control, prevents a pregnancy from beginning rather than ending a pregnancy.
Rape victims are never forced to take EC; however, I believe all rape victims are entitled to accurate information and have the right to access EC in the event that they choose to use this method of contraception. The Bush administration’s proposal would affect many people on both a medical and emotional level. It is often very difficult for rape victims to seek help and medical care. If we allow healthcare workers to deny these women basic information about their treatment options, we are denying rape victims the basic medical and emotional care they need and deserve.
Katie Simons
UW Sophomore
PAVE Media Advocate
http://uwpave.rso.wisc.edu/
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Very well written and informative article.
Taliban or Republicans: Different religion, same lunatics.
Great letter. Go PAVE!
PAVE is awesome! Great coverage of a VERY important issue.
By the way, Sarah Palin thinks rape victims should have to pay for the police to collect rape kits.
She sure does… check this link out
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/21/palin.rape.exams/index.html