Res. No. 754 Title Resolution calling upon the New York State Senate to adopt S.202, which would require hospitals to provide information on emergency contraception and, upon request, provide emergency contraception to rape survivors during emergency treatment. Body By Council Members Quinn, Clarke, Gennaro, Gerson, Jackson, Koppell, Lopez, Martinez, Monserrate, Nelson, Sanders, Sears, Serrano, Weprin, Yassky and Brewer Whereas, In 1997, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved certain combinations of the medications used in standard birth control, including estrogen and progesterone, as safe and effective methods of emergency contraception (EC) which may be used to reduce the risk of pregnancy after sex if taken within seventy-two hours of unprotected intercourse; and Whereas, EC prevents a woman from ovulating, or, if she has already ovulated, prevents an egg from subsequently being fertilized or implanted on to the uterine wall, thereby preventing pregnancy when other contraceptive methods have failed or unprotected intercourse has occurred; and Whereas, A study published in the 1992 November/December issue of Family Planning Perspectives claims that the use of EC could prevent as many as 1.7 million unintended pregnancies that occur each year in the United States, including as many as 800,000 pregnancies that result in abortion; and Whereas, EC will reduce a woman's risk of pregnancy by up to 89% if taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, and is substantially more effective the sooner it is taken; and Whereas, According to Planned Parenthood, each year, over 32,000 women in the United States become pregnant as a result of rape; and Whereas, Despite the fact that the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Medical Association maintain that standard emergency care for sexual assault survivors should include counseling about the risk of pregnancy and the provision of EC if requested, some hospitals do not offer EC to sexual assault survivors and many fail to inform women that it is available; and Whereas, According to a 1997 survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, most women of reproductive age do not know enough about EC to effectively use it-only 11 percent have heard of it, are aware of its availability in the United States and know that such treatment must be initiated within 72 hours to be effective; and Whereas, S.202 would require that every hospital providing emergency treatment to rape survivors inform such survivors of the existence of EC and of the availability of EC at such hospital; Whereas; The New York State Assembly has already passed A.015, the companion bill to S.202, on February 10, 2003; now, therefore, be it Resolved, The New York City Council calls upon the New York State Senate to adopt S.202, which would require hospitals to provide information on emergency contraception and, upon request, provide emergency contraception to rape survivors during emergency treatment. CAW LS #2098 |1013|