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Pennsylvania Should C.A.R.E. About Its Rape
Victims
HARRISBURG -- On
the final day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Sen. Joe Conti joined other
state lawmakers to announce a new legislative initiative to empower rape victims
to regain control of their lives and to decrease the number of unwanted
pregnancies in the state.
The C.A.R.E. Act, or
Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies, would require hospitals in
Pennsylvania to provide comprehensive care for rape victims when they seek
emergency room care.
"Hospitals providing
emergency services have an obligation to assist rape victims in reclaiming their
sense of security and empowerment," said Conti. "That obligation should involve
treating any injuries, providing access to a rape counselor, informing the
victim about emergency contraception and providing victims with a full regimen
of emergency contraception upon the victims' request. After learning more about
the issue, I knew that I had to support this legislation."
The C.A.R.E. Act would
require the hospital to contact the local rape crisis center so that a rape
crisis counselor can join the victim at the emergency room and advise her of all
available service and answer any questions that she may have.
In a recent poll conducted by
Susquehanna Polling and Research, 84 percent of Pennsylvanians supported
requiring hospitals to inform and provide emergency contraception to rape
victims. Currently, over 50 percent of Pennsylvania hospitals do not provide
this service.
Emergency contraception is a
high dose of the same medication found in regular birth control pills. It can
prevent pregnancy, but does not end an established pregnancy (it is not the
French abortion pill RU-486). It should be taken within hours after a rape
crisis, experts say.
 
At an Oct. 31 news conference in the
Capitol Media Center, Sen. Joe Conti introduces legislation to create
the Compassionate Assistance for
Rape Emergencies (CARE) Act.
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