Emergency Contraception

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION (EC) FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS

Connecticut law ensures that sexual assault victims receive access to emergency contraception (EC) in hospital emergency rooms.  As part of the minimum standards for the examination and treatment of a sexual assault victim, a physician or other health care provider must provide a sexual assault victim with medically and factually accurate information about EC, offer her EC, and dispense EC to her upon request.  Hospitals are allowed to administer pregnancy tests and if the test is positive, the hospital does not have to provide the victim with EC.  

Hospitals are also allowed to contract with an "independent provider" defined as a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse or registered nurse, or a nurse-midwife to ensure compliance with the law.  Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann § 19a-112e (Enacted 2007).