“EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION”

Sponsors:  Sen. Spano / A. Paulin    Sen. Winner / A. Englebright     A. McDonough

Bill # S.6686 / # A.9906  (Same As Uni)      # S.4558 / # A.5174 (Same As)       # A.10574

The New York State Right to Life Committee takes no position on contraception, i.e., the prevention of fertilization.  Once fertilization – the uniting of egg and sperm – has occurred, a new life has begun and NYSRTLC is opposed to the destruction of that human embryo. 

NYSRTLC recognizes scientific opinions stating that the predominant mechanism by which levonorgestrol, or “Plan B,” works is to prevent ovulation, thereby preventing fertilization.  However, there is significant scientific uncertainty about whether it may also in some cases work to prevent implantation.  Indeed, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) product labeling for “Plan B” specifically includes prevention of implantation as a possible mechanism.  NYSRTLC opposes abortifacients, regardless of whether they are marketed as contraceptives.

NYSRTLC recognizes that levonorgestrol is not the same as RU-486, which acts to end the life of an already-implanted baby.  However, prevention of implantation would just as surely end the life of an embryo.  Pro-abortion organizations have been engaging in an effort to redefine pregnancy as beginning at implantation.  This is a further effort to dehumanize the human embryo, the stage of life from which we all began.

Unless it is conclusively proven that “Plan B” cannot cause destruction of new human life, NYSRTLC opposes legislation to make “Plan B” more readily available.

S.6686/A.9906 would authorize pharmacists and registered nurses to dispense levonorgestrol, or “Plan B,” without a specific patient order, including to minors.  A.9906 passed the Assembly on February 27, 2006, by a vote of 102 to 28 and awaits action in the Senate, in the Higher Education Committee.

S.4558/A.5174 would require every college and university of the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) to provide levonorgestrol, or “Plan B,” to any student requesting it, and would require the widespread provision of information about “Plan B” at such colleges and universities.  S.4558/A.5174 dangerously states that Plan B “cannot and does not cause abortions.”  A.5174 was reported from the Assembly Health Committee on April 10, 2006 and awaits action in the Assembly Ways & Means Committee.  Assemblyman Schimminger was the lone Assembly Health Committee member to vote the NYSRTL position, against reporting A.5174 onward on April 10.

A.10574 is similar to A.9906, authorizing distribution of levonorgestrol by non-specific patient order to patients 17 and older.  A.10574 was held for consideration on May 9, 2006, in the Assembly Health Committee, removing one levonorgestrol expansion bill from possibly becoming law this year.  The bill was “held” by the Democratic-controlled committee because it is a Republican minority bill.