Rape Survivors' Health and Future Traded Away

By Pat Reuss, Senior Policy Analyst

January 7, 2005

The Department of Justice's recently released "medical guidelines" for treating rape survivors has one major gaping omission — no mention of emergency contraception (commonly known as Plan B or the "morning after pill"), the standard precaution against pregnancy after rape.

The protocol for how the medical community must treat sexual assault patients was mandated by the 2000 Violence Against Women Act and was developed over a three-year period by the Justice Department's Office on Violence Against Women. Experts in the field say that provision of emergency contraception was included in an early draft and must have been dropped for political reasons.

"The Bush administration appears to be currying favor with anti-women zealots and Catholic-owned hospitals as they conveniently drop any mention of emergency contraception from the guidelines," said NOW President Kim Gandy. "The radical right is once again showing little regard for women's lives, even women who have survived rape."

Emergency contraception, when taken within 1-3 days after rape or sexual intercourse, can prevent pregnancy before it occurs. Medical professionals who do not give rape survivors the option of taking emergency contraception have failed in providing appropriate care.

NOW members and supporters have been early and ardent advocates for access to emergency contraception for rape survivors and for over-the-counter sales of this legal, safe product which is simply an large dose of birth control pills.

A coalition of national and statewide organizations has written to the Office on Violence Against Women and we will be contacting members of Congress in the near future, perhaps seeking sponsors of legislation to require distribution of emergency contraception by hospitals and medical centers who receive federal funds.

In the meantime, it is expected that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be issuing their decision on over-the-counter status for emergency contraception by Jan. 22. The whole issue of demanding that hospitals and doctors provide or prescribe emergency contraception can be eased if the drug is available without prescription in every pharmacy and dispensary across the land.

Please send an email to the FDA urging that emergency contraception be made available without prescription for ALL women!

• Read the coalition letter to the DOJ.
• Learn more about NOW's work on emergency contraception.
• Read more facts about emergency contraception.