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Proposed Hospital Mandate is Morally Objectionable "Emergency contraception" a misnomer
PLW Letterhead

Tuesday, February 11, 2003


Contact: Matt Sande, Director of Legislative Affairs
Peggy Hamill, State Director
(262) 796-1111, (414) 416-0489 or info@prolifewisconsin.org

Proposed Hospital Mandate is Morally Objectionable
“Emergency contraception” a misnomer


Pro-Life Wisconsin strongly opposes soon-to-be introduced legislation that would require Wisconsin hospitals to provide “emergency contraception” to alleged victims of sexual assault.

“So-called ‘emergency contraception’ will most often act to cause a chemical abortion, and Pro-Life Wisconsin strongly opposes legislation that mandates Wisconsin hospitals to provide it,” said Peggy Hamill, state director of Pro-Life Wisconsin. “Let there be no doubt this is an abortion bill, and we strongly urge both the Senate and the Assembly to reject it.”

Emergency contraception consists of two high doses of the birth control pill, taken within a 12-hour period. These drugs act to inhibit the movement of sperm, suppress ovulation, and alter the lining of the uterus so that a newly conceived child is unable to implant in the womb. This last mechanism constitutes chemical abortion.

“Pro-Life Wisconsin sympathizes with victims of sexual assault who desire to prevent a pregnancy and we would support compassionate treatments if proven to truly prevent conception,” said Hamill. “However, it is extremely difficult to determine whether or not conception has occurred at the time emergency contraception is taken. We must always err on the side of protecting innocent human life.”

The legislation would specifically require hospitals to inform an alleged victim of sexual assault about “emergency contraception,” then offer it and provide it upon her request.

“Wisconsin law protects the right of hospitals to refuse to participate in morally objectionable practices such as abortion and sterilization,” said Matt Sande, Pro-Life Wisconsin’s director of legislative affairs. “This provision appears to be in conflict with current state statute because of the abortion-causing effect of so-called emergency contraception drugs.”