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September 19, 2007
Wisconsin tramples on rape victms' rights
A Wisconsin bill making emergency contraception available to rape victims has a horrific amendment that would allow health care professionals and hospitals to refuse to dispense EC if it goes against their religious beliefs.
The amendment would allow hospitals and health care professionals to refuse to It also says such hospitals would be exempt from civil liability if they withhold care from rape victims. Further, the amendment states that this care could be withheld from rape victims even by hospitals that receive federal or state aid.Rep. Terry Musser, R-Black River Falls, the author of the Assembly bill, said Gundrum's amendment unravels the very protections the bill is intended to provide.
"How do you exempt a hospital from treating rape victims?" Musser said. "That's basically what the amendment says."
Kelda Helen Roys, executive director of the NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin, has called the the amendment "reprehensible."
Posted by Jessica at September 19, 2007 12:00 PM