Emergency Contraception

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION (EC) FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS

Arkansas law requires that sexual assault victims receive information about emergency contraception (EC) in hospital emergency rooms.  The law requires Arkansas hospitals to amend existing protocols to include informing sexual assault victims about the proper use and availability of EC as a means of preventing pregnancy.  

This law contains a refusal clause that allows any health care professional to refuse to provide information about EC on the basis of religious or moral objections. 

Ark. Code Ann. §§ 20-13-1401 to -1403 (Enacted 2007).