more on connecticut catholic hospitals and the morning after pill

i of course don't agree with governor rell on this at all. some people choose a catholic hospital because it is the closest one or because their doctor practices there or because their insurance will only cover a visit there. if a woman is raped (lets say) the LAST thing on her mind is going to be NO DON'T TAKE ME TO THE CATHOLIC HOSPITAL. it will be TAKE ME TO THE CLOSEST HOSPITAL and if it HAPPENS to be CATHOLIC, please allow me the CHOICE of taking the morning after pill OR NOT.

From the Hartford Courant
Rell Backs Rape Policy
Supports Catholics On Contraception By CHRISTOPHER KEATING And WILLIAM HATHAWAY Courant Staff Writers March 3, 2006
Gov. M. Jodi Rell is siding with the state's Catholic hospitals in the battle over whether the hospitals should be forced to offer the morning-after contraceptive pill for women who have been raped.Some lawmakers and advocates for sexual assault victims have called upon the General Assembly to require all Connecticut hospitals, including the four Roman Catholic hospitals, to provide emergency contraception if requested by the rape victim."I'm kind of comfortable the way it is - as long as I know that there are referrals being made to a regular hospital, for example, which is what the Catholic hospitals do now," said Rell, who is an Episcopalian. "Any hospital that opts out of a service based on religious beliefs already has that right under Connecticut law. The legislature would have to change that, and I'm not sure that they are prepared to do that."When asked if the proposed new law is unnecessary, Rell said, "I don't think it's necessary, but I'd wait to see what the legislature decides to do on that bill."A public hearing is scheduled Monday at the state Capitol complex on Senate Bill 445, but no votes have been taken.A law requiring the hospitals to dispense the emergency contraceptives would conflict with Catholic teachings that life begins at the moment of conception, according to Catholic officials. Lobbyists are working on a compromise that could involve police officers' handing a card to victims, with information such as the rape crisis hot line, which would be an expansion of the practice of informing victims about their rights.In a related matter, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal issued a legal opinion Thursday that all pharmacies in Connecticut that want to do business with people covered by state insurance plans will have to carry the emergency contraceptive, known as Plan B. Those insurance plans cover about 188,000 state employees, retirees and dependents.