Birth Control

ORS 435.254
Hospital duty to provide information about emergency contraception and to make emergency contraception available to victim of sexual assault

  • informational materials
  • rules

(1)

A hospital providing care to a female victim of sexual assault shall:

(a)

Promptly provide the victim with unbiased, medically and factually accurate written and oral information about emergency contraception;

(b)

Promptly orally inform the victim of her option to be provided emergency contraception at the hospital; and

(c)

If requested by the victim and if not medically contraindicated, provide the victim with emergency contraception immediately at the hospital, notwithstanding ORS 147.397 (Payment of costs).
(2)(a) In collaboration with victim advocates, other interested parties and nonprofit organizations that provide intervention and support services to victims of sexual assault and their families, the Oregon Health Authority shall develop, prepare and produce informational materials relating to emergency contraception for the prevention of pregnancy in victims of sexual assault for distribution to and use in all hospital emergency departments in the state, in quantities sufficient to comply with the requirements of this section.

(b)

The Director of the Oregon Health Authority, in collaboration with community sexual assault programs and other relevant stakeholders, may approve informational materials developed, prepared and produced by other entities for the purposes of paragraph (a) of this subsection.

(c)

All informational materials must:

(A)

Be clearly written and easily understood in a culturally competent manner; and

(B)

Contain an explanation of emergency contraception, including its use, safety and effectiveness in preventing pregnancy, including but not limited to the following facts:

(i)

Emergency contraception has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as an over-the-counter medication for women 18 years of age or older and is a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse or after contraceptive failure, if taken in a timely manner.

(ii)

Emergency contraception is more effective the sooner it is taken.

(iii)

Emergency contraception will not disrupt an established pregnancy.

(3)

The authority shall respond to complaints of violations of ORS 435.256 (Civil penalty) in accordance with ORS 441.044 (Complaints about standard of care in facility).

(4)

The authority shall incorporate the requirements of this section in rules adopted pursuant to ORS 441.025 (License issuance) that prescribe the care to be given to patients at hospitals.

(5)

The director shall adopt rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

(6)

Information required to be provided under subsection (1) of this section is medically and factually accurate if the information is verified or supported by the weight of research conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods and based upon:

(a)

Reports in peer-reviewed journals; or

(b)

Information that leading professional organizations, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and agencies with expertise in the field recognize as accurate and objective. [2007 c.182 §5; 2009 c.595 §694; 2009 c.792 §36]
Source

Last accessed
Mar. 11, 2023

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