Hi George,

When it comes to reproductive health care, one of the most important issues facing legislators currently are bills to increase women's access to emergency contraception. Virginia has twice defeated bills that would enable women to have access to emergency contraception without having to first make an appointment with a doctor, and then go to a pharmacy. Many other states have already passed or are considering such bills.

Quick access for emergency contraception is important to all women, but particularly to victims of sexual assault. With everything else they must deal with in the immediate aftermath, getting EC shouldn't be something that is difficult. There is only a 72-hour window within which one must take the first dose of EC. I don't know if you've tried to make an appointment with your doctor lately, but...

Some hospitals do routinely give victims EC, but others, especially religious-based hospitals, don't. There is now a national bill in Congress which was introduced by Connie Morella (R-MD), with bi-partisan support, that would require all hospitals to offer EC to survivors of sexual assault. Called the "Compassionate Care for Female Sexual Assault Survivors Act," this bill would go far in enabling survivors to get the medication they need after an assault. It's not far enough (many survivors don't go to a hospital), but it's a start.

Emergency contraception, as most of your readers likely know, is not an "abortion pill," is not RU486, and does not cause harm to a fetus if a woman is already pregnant. However, foes of women's reproductive rights try to trade on the confusion between EC and RU486.

I hope the people of the 5th district will support someone who will go to Washington and vote for bills that will protect all women, but especially women who are facing the immediate aftermath of a sexual assault.

I've not heard Virgil Goode's opinion of the "Compassionate Care" act, but his views don't seem to allow him to be open to much in the way of new information. I'm guessing that Meredith Richards is more likely to look out for the interests of sexual assault survivors and their loved ones in the 5th district than is Virgil Goode.

Valerie L'Herrou (electronic mail, September 12, 2002)