Federal Government Says States Not Required to Distribute Emergency Contraceptives
Associated Press
July 28, 2004
By BOB JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer
MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Department of Public Health is not required to distribute emergency contraceptives, also called "morning after pills," at its family planning clinics, according to a letter from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson to an Alabama Congressman.
U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Alabama, had asked Thompson to clarify federal requirements after workers began distributing the pills at state clinics earlier this year.
Dr. Tom Miller, family planning director for the health department, said the clinics will continue to distribute the emergency contraceptives, which consist of a heavy dose of birth control pills taken by a woman within 72 hours after she had intercourse.
Miller said the emergency contraceptives do not cause a woman to abort a growing fetus, like the pill RU-486 does, but instead prevents a fertilized egg from attaching to the lining of the uterus.
"There's not a mandate to do this," Aderholt said. "I don't think it's the best policy to proceed with this, but now they (health department officials) can only say it's their policy to proceed."
Miller said he feels the distribution of the emergency contraceptives is helping low income women in Alabama.
"We've got a lot of folks in the field doing their job and meeting the needs of their patients," Miller said.
Alabama Christian Coalition President John Giles said the public health department should "rescind the mandate to distribute these pills."
"It was clear to us from the outset that the decision to distribute the morning after pills in Alabama was purely an administrative decision."
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