Boston, Mass., Dec 7, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Governor is set to grant an exemption for Catholic and other privately run hospitals from this regulation on religious and moral grounds.
The new law, which was passed overwhelmingly in July and overrode a veto by Gov. Mitt Romney, also lets pharmacists distribute the abortifacient without a prescription.
The emergency contraception is a high dose of hormones that women can take up to five days after sex to flush out a potentially fertilized egg.
Public Health Commissioner Paul Cote Jr. said Tuesday that the new law does not trump an existing statute that says private hospitals can not be forced to provide abortions or contraception, reported the Associated Press.
Cote’s statements drew criticism from Attorney General Thomas Reilly, a Democratic candidate for governor, who said the law clearly applies to all hospitals, reported the AP.
Seven other states with emergency contraception laws have not allowed exemptions.
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