Low abortion rates cited in preventive health bill

Comprehensive, medically accurate sex education was a common thread in a Tuesday Missouri House hearing on a preventive health services bill.

"We do know because of a recent study that abortion rates are at an all-time 40-year low," said Rep. Stacey Newman, the bill's sponsor. "From this report, it's pretty evident the reason they're at an all-time low is because of access to medically accurate information and access to family planning services."

She said her bill is about "preventing abortions, giving them (women) what they need, giving physicians what they need to treat women, and giving them (women) access to family planning."

The bill requires sex education in schools be based on peer-reviewed projects and be age-appropriate. It also establishes the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act, the Birth Control Protection Act, a Women's Health Services Program, and sets standards for pharmacies in the dispensing of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.

Many individuals who testified in favor of the bill are in support of medically accurate sex education for youth.

"I see firsthand the everyday effects of poor sex education," said Dr. Elizabeth Schmidt, an obstetrician and gynecologist in St. Louis. "This legislation has the capability to help women in Missouri."

She also supports the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act, which requires a standard of care for any health care facility that provides emergency care to sexual assault victims. For example, victims must be given information regarding emergency contraception.

"Experiencing pregnancy in this situation is even worse," Schmidt said. "The American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states unequivocally that all women pregnant from rape have access to emergency contraception. It's extremely time-sensitive. The sooner a woman takes it after being raped, the greater chance of preventing pregnancy."

Allison Hile, executive director of Missouri's Teen Pregnancy and Prevention Partnership, would like to see medically accurate, age appropriate sex education in K-12 schools.

She and her organization support the bill, as does the Rev. Rebecca Turner, executive director of Faith Aloud.

"I support every facet of this bill," Turner said. "The bill would help standardize what is appropriate, what children should be learning in schools. As a minister, I believe it's immoral to withhold information that could put our children's lives at risk."

Susan Klein with Missouri Right to Life said her agency opposes the legislation because it removes or nullifies legislation that already shows compassion for women and unborn children.

The Missouri Catholic Conference also opposes the bill because the it goes against Catholic and Religious Ethical Directives, a set of guidelines Catholic hospitals must follow.

"It's not permitted to give contraception to stop pregnancy in an already fertilized ovary," said Tyler McClay, the agency's general counsel.

Rep. Genise Montecillo, a member of the House Committee, questioned McClay if the directives would still hold true if a woman's life was at risk.

McClay responded, "There's got to be a place for the rights of conscience for healthcare providers."