In a recent study involving emergency room patients and their knowledge of emergency contraception (EC), researchers found that while 60% of those surveyed did not know how to get the medication, nearly 1/3 of respondents had never heard of EC. The report also found 70% of those surveyed had sex within the last 2 months but fewer than half of the participants used birth control regularly. As the American College of Emergency Physicians convenes this week in Washington DC, we hope that the above information from the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine is shared and appropriate action taken to educate ER personnel.

A nationwide legislative trend seems to be gaining some traction similar to the tragic stories behind fetal personhood efforts. Led by the M.I.S.S. Foundation the measure includes the creation of official death certificates for parents of stillborns. Yet, from PressConnects.com, “…a measure to do just that is stalled in the (New York) Legislature, with some claiming that it could be the first step in making abortions more difficult to obtain.” This type of legislation is often referred to as the “Missing Angel Act.” Twelve states currently offer certificates of stillbirth.

Other state trends on the horizon include efforts to jump on the South Dakota abortion “Ban Wagon.” Without exceptions for rape, incest or the health of a woman, Louisiana is the newest state moving forward with legislation that would virtually outlaw all abortions within their state lines. Additionally, the measure would criminalize and jail doctors who provide such services and only go into effect if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

Finally, as many state legislative sessions are wrapping up for the year, the beginning of the state ballot measure season is upon us. States gearing up for anti-choice initiatives include Colorado, Missouri, Oregon, and South Dakota. According to the Sacramento Bee, California will also have a fight on their hands since the “San Diego newspaper publisher who bankrolled last year's unsuccessful parental notification initiative on abortion is opening up his checkbook again, strongly boosting chances the measure will qualify for the ballot a second time.” The nearly identical measure proposed from last year was defeated by a vote of the people, 53% to 47%.