Rape Patient Twice-Victimized in Lebanon, PA

Hospitals Fail Rape Victims

On Tuesday, July 25, 2006 Harrisburg's The Patriot-News featured a front-page article about a rape victim in Lebanon County whose ER doctor at Good Samaritan Hospital refused to prescribe her emergency contraception because of his religious beliefs. The victim was eventually able to obtain a prescription from her gynecologist, only to find that the local pharmacy was out of the medication. She had to travel from eastern Lebanon County to Reading to get the prescription filled.

Emergency contraception (EC or the "morning-after pill") is a highly effective, FDA-approved medication that works like birth control to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex.  Most importantly, EC is time-sensitive (effective up to 120 hours after unprotected sex) and requires that women have immediate access to the medication.  Women have a right to re-claim control over their bodies after a traumatic rape and decide for themselves whether or not they want to take EC to prevent a pregnancy that could result from the rape.  In caring for rape patients, hospitals should be equipped with the information and tools to present women with this option to prevent pregnancy.  This includes having procedures in place to provide uninterrupted care to the patient if her attending doctor refuses to provide EC.  To respect both the religious freedom of the doctor and the right to access all available treatment options of the patient, hospitals can arrange to have another doctor on duty dispense the medication. 

Sadly, the young woman's experience at Good Samaritan Hospital is not unique.  Many women in Pennsylvania are not guaranteed comprehensive medical care when they present to the emergency rooms.  In fact, a recent survey conducted by the Duvall Project revealed that only 47% of hospital emergency rooms in Pennsylvania offer and provide EC to rape victims as a standard of care.  This is why advocates and concerned Pennsylvanians are supporting the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies (CARE) Act.  The CARE ACT--Senate Bill 990 and House Bill 2159--is critical legislation in Pennsylvania that would protect the rights of rape victims by ensuring that they receive comprehensive medical care, including EC, when they present to the emergency room. 

Recently, Senate Bill 990 was amended to include provisions that the ACLU of PA does not support.  Read our Memorandum to PA Senate About Senate Bill 990 to learn more.

It is estimated that one in ten Pennsylvania women has been the victim of forcible rape in her lifetime.  Help support the CARE Act and help assure that these women receive the support and CARE they need to begin the road to recovery. 

Over-the-Counter AND In the Emergency Room  Read about why the CARE Act is still important, in addition to the FDA's recent approval of Plan B for over-the-counter sales to individuals ages 18 and older. 

Read more about Emergency Contraception Services for Rape Victims in Pennsylvania Hospitals.

Read stories from sexual assault survivors about their experiences with EC.