Pill bill exempts
religious hospitals

A panel OKs the bill
on emergency pills for
victims of rape

A controversial bill requiring hospitals to provide emergency contraception to rape victims has moved out of the House Health Committee with a compromise amendment.

Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed a similar measure in 2003, saying the bill should have exempted St. Francis Healthcare System's two hospitals, which opposed the measure based on Catholic Church beliefs.

The Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and other groups argue it is a woman's right to protect herself from an unwanted pregnancy from rape and that the emergency contraception pill is safe and effective.

The supporters and opponents got together Thursday at a House Health Committee hearing and agreed to an amendment exempting a religiously affiliated hospital from the provisions.

However, the hospital must transport the sexual assault victim, at its own expense, to another health care facility or provider of the patient's choice for emergency care.

Attorney Roger Fonseca, representing the American Civil Liberties Union, said he does not think the amendment is necessary. "There is no requirement for any exemption under freedom of religion."

If it is necessary to get the bill passed, he said, ACLU would support it, but he said "religious exemption" should be clarified because problems might occur in areas where a transfer is not possible.

House Bill 1240 requires hospitals to give rape victims information on emergency contraceptives so they can make informed decisions about what they want. It was forwarded to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration.