Massachusetts legislation could allow Morning After Pill over the counter

Jul 7, 2005 / 22:00 pm

On Wednesday, the Massachusetts State House passed legislation which could allow for the morning after pill, or Plan B, to be sold over the counter in pharmacies around the state.

Massachusetts is the latest state to pass the bill which has yet to be signed by Governor Mitt Romney. The morning after pill is known to sometimes cause an abortion by failing to allow a fertilized egg to attach to the uterine wall.

According to lifenews.com, the legislation, which passed the House 135-17 would also mandate that hospitals supply the drug to rape victims. A different, Senate version of the legislation exempted private hospitals, like Catholic ones, which may be morally opposed to the drug from having to supply it.

As for whether or not the Governor would sign the bill into law, spokeswoman Julie Teer told the Associated Press that he needs time to review it.

"During his 2002 campaign,” she said, “Gov. Romney said he would not change the abortion laws of the Commonwealth. Therefore, when the governor receives the emergency contraception legislation, he will review it carefully and measure whether or not it changes the status quo."

Seven other states, including Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Washington, have passed similar legislation, and the drug is now available without a prescription.

Many pro-choice groups like NARAL, are putting strong pressure on Gov. Romney to sign the legislation into law.