AP/Houston Chronicle Examines Debate On Initiative That Aims To Reduce Number Of Unintended Pregnancies, Abortions

AP/Houston Chronicle Examines Debate On Initiative That Aims To Reduce Number Of Unintended Pregnancies, Abortions

The AP/Houston Chronicle on Thursday examined the debate concerning the so-called "prevention first" initiative, a package of legislation that aims to reduce the need for abortions by reducing the number of unintended pregnancies.

According to proponents of the initiative, providing better information about contraceptives and expanding access to them are methods that could reduce unintended pregnancies and subsequent abortions. Opponents of the initiative believe it is an "alarming effort to eliminate abstinence-only sex education, strengthen abortion-rights groups and encourage sex outside of marriage," the AP/Chronicle reports.

The "centerpiece" of the initiative is a bill (S 21), sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), that would expand Medicaid and private health insurance coverage to include contraceptives and require hospitals to make emergency contraception available to rape survivors. The measure, called the Prevention First Act, also would allocate funds for comprehensive sex education programs that teach youth about contraception, as well as abstinence.

Another measure (HR 2596, S 1555) in the package would require pharmacies to provide women access to contraceptives (Crary, AP/Houston Chronicle, 6/7). The measure, introduced last week by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Frank Lautenburg (D-N.J.), also would make it illegal for a pharmacy to refuse to fill a birth control prescription and for a pharmacist to "intimidate, threaten or harass customers" or "intentionally breach, or threaten to breach, medical confidentiality," according to a Maloney release (Maloney release, 6/6).

According to the AP/Chronicle, groups that support abortion rights -- including Planned Parenthood Federation of America and NARAL Pro-Choice America -- are advocating for similar legislation at the state level. Colorado and Washington earlier this year passed laws barring abstinence-only sex education in public schools, and five states -- Arkansas, Connecticut, Colorado, Minnesota and Oregon -- passed laws requiring hospitals to provide EC or information about the drug to rape survivors.

source : www.medicalnewstoday.com