Legislature Urged to Pass “EC in the ER”
Call to Action Marks “Back Up Your Birth Control Day” Saint Paul, Minnesota— To mark the national “Back Up Your Birth Control Day,” The Family Tree Clinic and NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota calls on the Minnesota Legislature to pass the Emergency Care for Sexual Assault Victims Act (HF 0322, SF 0270) and the Unintended Pregnancy and STD Prevention Act (HF 2731, SF 1665). “The aim of the national Back Up Your Birth Control Day is to increase awareness about the option of emergency contraception when a contraceptive method fails or is not utilized,” said Tim Stanley, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota. “We call on women to learn about this option and protect themselves; and we call on the Legislature to give women the tools to prevent unintended pregnancy and pass legislation increasing access to emergency contraception,” said Peg LaBore, director of Family Tree Clinic. NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota’s Student Organizers are working on sixteen campuses throughout the state to distribute Family Tree Clinic’s information about emergency contraception by organizing “Pub and Coffee Shop Crawls,” petition drives in support of legislation and on-campus publicity emphasizing the facts about emergency contraception. Emergency contraceptive pills (EC) are ordinary birth control pills that can prevent pregnancy by up to 89 percent when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. EC, also known as the “morning-after” pill, does not cause abortion; but rather inhibits ovulation or fertilization before a pregnancy occurs. Emergency contraception is a safe and effective way to prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce the need for abortion. When a woman is raped, emergency contraception can be an important tool to help her avoid the additional trauma of an unwanted pregnancy by the rapist. Emergency contraception should be the standard of care for hospitals that treat survivors of sexual assault. Unfortunately, many hospitals emergency rooms do not provide emergency contraception to women requesting it, even to victims of sexual assault. NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota is an affiliate of NARAL Pro-Choice America and is the largest grassroots pro-choice organization in Minnesota. Family Tree Clinic provides affordable reproductive health medical, educational, and referral services to women, men, teens and the community. Contact: Tim Stanley - 651-602-7655 / Peg LaBore - 651-645-0478 ###
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