HF 1472

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:51am

A bill for an act
relating to health; clarifying information provided by hospitals to sexual assault
victims; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 145.4712, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 145.4712, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:

Subdivision 1.

Emergency care to female sexual assault victims.

(a) It shall be the
standard of care for all hospitals that provide emergency care to, at a minimum:

(1) provide each female sexual assault victim with medically and factually accurate
and unbiased written and oral information about emergency contraception from the
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and distributed to all hospitals by
the Department of Health new text begin . Prior to distribution, this information may be modified by the
commissioner, in consultation with the Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership, to ensure
that the information provided is patient centered and sensitive to the psychological needs
of the sexual assault victim new text end ;

(2) orally inform each female sexual assault victim of the option of being provided
with emergency contraception at the hospital; and

(3) immediately provide emergency contraception to each sexual assault victim
who requests it provided it is not medically contraindicated and is ordered by a legal
prescriber. Emergency contraception shall be administered in accordance with current
medical protocols regarding timing and dosage necessary to complete the treatment.

(b) A hospital may administer a pregnancy test. If the pregnancy test is positive, the
hospital does not have to comply with the provisions in paragraph (a).