Emergency Contraception: Coming to a State Legislature Near You

The Washington Post reports that more than 60 bills regarding emergency contraception (EC) have been filed in state legislatures this year. Some of the measures seek to expand access to EC, which can help prevent pregnancy if taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. But other bills would make it harder for women to obtain EC, even if they have a valid prescription. EC received national attention in 2005 when the FDA refused to issue a decision on making EC available over the counter.

The Canadian Supreme Court declined to hear a class-action lawsuit regarding public funding of timely abortions in Canada. The case was brought by two women who had to pay for their own abortions at a private clinic because they would have had to wait more than two months to receive publicly funded care.