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December 9, 2005
Romney changes position on EC; requires all hospitals to provide to rape victims
Wow. I didn’t see this one coming.
Governor Mitt Romney reversed course on the state's new emergency contraception law yesterday, saying that all hospitals in the state will be obligated to provide the morning-after pill to rape victims.
The decision overturns a ruling made public this week by the state Department of Public Health that privately run hospitals could opt out of the requirement if they objected on moral or religious grounds.
Romney had initially supported that interpretation, but he said yesterday that he had changed direction after his legal counsel, Mark D. Nielsen, concluded Wednesday that the new law supersedes a preexisting statute that says private hospitals cannot be forced to provide abortions or contraception.
''And on that basis, I have instructed the Department of Public Health to follow the conclusion of my own legal counsel and to adopt that sounder view," Romney said at the State House after signing a bill on capital gains taxes.
The decision overturns a ruling made public this week by the state Department of Public Health that privately run hospitals could opt out of the requirement if they objected on moral or religious grounds.
Romney had initially supported that interpretation, but he said yesterday that he had changed direction after his legal counsel, Mark D. Nielsen, concluded Wednesday that the new law supersedes a preexisting statute that says private hospitals cannot be forced to provide abortions or contraception.
''And on that basis, I have instructed the Department of Public Health to follow the conclusion of my own legal counsel and to adopt that sounder view," Romney said at the State House after signing a bill on capital gains taxes.
Interesting. After all his back and forth on emergency contraception recently, I never would have thought he would do the right thing. Because damn was that requirement needed--a 2004 report by NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts showed that a dozen Bay State hospitals that treat rape victims didn’t provide emergency contraception.
Whether Romney is a flip flopper or not doesn’t really concern me; I’m just pleased as punch that women in Massachusetts have a bit more choice today than they did yesterday.
Posted by Jessica at December 9, 2005 12:03 PM
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