PENNSYLVANIA SHOULD C.A.R.E. ABOUT ITS RAPE VICTIMS
 

 HARRISBURG, OCT. 31 – On the final day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, state Sens. Connie Williams and Joe Conti and state Rep. Bill DeWeese announced a new legislative initiative to empower rape victims to regain control of their lives and to decrease the number of unwanted pregnancies in the state.

 The C.A.R.E. Act, or Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies, would require Pennsylvania hospitals to provide comprehensive care for rape victims when they seek emergency room care. The legislation is being introduced in both the House and the Senate (H.B. 2159 and S.B. 990). Click here to view charts on C.A.R.E.

 “Every 387 seconds, somewhere in America, someone is raped,” Williams said. “While women may not be ready to go to the police right after they are raped, many can be persuaded to seek medical treatment from their local hospital. Hospitals are safe environments that can help a woman begin the long process of healing.”

 “Hospitals providing emergency services have an obligation to assist rape victims in reclaiming their sense of security and empowerment,” Conti said. “That obligation should involve treating any injuries, providing access to a rape counselor, informing the victim about emergency contraception and providing victims with a full regimen of emergency contraception upon the victims’ request. After learning more about the issue, I knew that I had to support this legislation.”

 It is estimated that more than 25,000 women become pregnant from rape each year. If the victim had been provided with emergency contraception, 88 percent of those pregnancies could have been prevented.

 “This is a simple and compassionate step hospitals can and should take for the victims of this heinous crime,” DeWeese said. “But, sadly, today more than half of Pennsylvania hospitals do not provide this service. It’s unconscionable and irresponsible and must be dealt with now.”

 In a recent poll conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research, 84 percent of Pennsylvanians supported requiring hospitals to inform and provide emergency contraception to rape victims. Currently, more than 50 percent of Pennsylvania hospitals do not provide this service.

 Emergency contraception is a high dose of the same medication found in regular birth control pills. It can prevent pregnancy, but does not end an established pregnancy (it is not the French abortion pill RU-486). It should be taken within hours after a rape crisis.

 “C.A.R.E. is about empowerment – it is about helping a rape victim to regain her sense of self and control of her world. C.A.R.E. can ensure that a woman, who has already become a victim, is not left feeling victimized a second time by carrying a pregnancy for nine months and delivering a baby conceived during a violent act against her,” Williams said. “It is time that Pennsylvania stands up and cares about rape victims.” 

To listen to Sen. Williams speak about C.A.R.E., please click here.