# Should a police report be required to obtain emergency contraception? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 3, 2013, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385 "2013-05-03T04:58:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/1 "2013-05-03T04:58:46Z")
Should a woman be mandated to present a police report (or at least ER paperwork of a rape kit) to be able to acquire emergency contraception? IMO, it should be policy to allow abortions to be limited to the truly necessary (early) abortions. ---
**Author:** ![Wulabo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Wulabo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wulabo)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/2 "2013-05-03T05:09:47Z")
No, I don’t agree. In the welfare state era with a looming population problem I think our stance should be to encourage the termination of any and all unwanted pregnancies no questions asked. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/3 "2013-05-03T05:16:18Z")
1. Emergency contraception is not abortion. 2. Emergency contraception should be over-the-counter, and not require anything more than sufficient funds. ---
**Author:** ![kellner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c2a13f/32.png) [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/4 "2013-05-03T05:17:07Z")
You seem to be confusing emergency contraception, which is an abortion as much or as little as the normal pill, with Mifepristone (RU486/Mifeprex/Mifegyne), the actual abortion pill. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/5 "2013-05-03T05:29:27Z")
TY **kellner** for fighting my ignorance! This thread seems incredibly moot now. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/6 "2013-05-03T05:32:41Z")
NO. …or what **Enginerd** ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/7 "2013-05-03T07:34:08Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > 1. Emergency contraception is not abortion. > 2. Emergency contraception should be over-the-counter, and not require anything more than sufficient funds. Agreed. I’d also add that providing an incentive to falsely accuse someone of rape is bloody stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/8 "2013-05-03T07:37:43Z")
What’s the point? If it’s a legitimate rape, the body has ways of shutting that whole thing down. …seriously, though, no. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/9 "2013-05-03T07:43:42Z")
Even the actual “abortion pill” would be used in the early weeks of pregnancy ([up to 49 days](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RU-486#Indications)). In my opinion, early abortions should not be restricted at all. At that stage, we’re talking about a quarter-inch-long embryo, not a baby. An embryo has the potential to become a person someday, but an embryo isn’t a person yet. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/10 "2013-05-03T08:38:47Z")
No, and neither should a police report be required for actual abortions. The woman shouldn’t, at least during the 1st trimester, be required to give any reason at all. Even the medical staff shouldn’t inquire as to her reasons any more that is necessary to verify that she’s of sound mind and doing this of her own free will. ---
**Author:** ![Khendrask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/11 "2013-05-03T10:38:53Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > 1. Emergency contraception is not abortion. > 2. Emergency contraception should be over-the-counter, and not require anything more than sufficient funds. > [@alphaboi867](#): > > No, and neither should a police report be required for actual abortions. The woman shouldn’t, at least during the 1st trimester, be required to give any reason at all. Even the medical staff shouldn’t inquire as to her reasons any more that is necessary to verify that she’s of sound mind and doing this of her own free will. I’m 100% with the above two posters. Why should police be involved in any medical decision? ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/12 "2013-05-03T12:22:11Z")
Yes, because the police need to know every time a condom breaks and a woman decides she doesn’t want to potentially bear the offspring of the hottie she boffed the night before. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/13 "2013-05-03T12:44:58Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Should a woman be mandated to present a police report (or at least ER paperwork of a rape kit) to be able to acquire emergency contraception? IMO, it should be policy to allow abortions to be limited to the truly necessary (early) abortions. Since I would allow abortion for any reason up to the point of viability, I disagree with your proposal. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/14 "2013-05-03T16:13:37Z")
Buckner-I agree with you totally. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/15 "2013-05-03T19:51:08Z")
Abortion and emergency contraception should be limited to those cases where it is absolutely necessary. Those cases would include at a bare minimum any time a woman is or might be pregnant when she does not want to be. Seriously, having a child is a huge thing, an immense effort and mind boggling responsibility. Why in the world would you want to entrap unwilling people into doing that?!?! There’s a great debate! ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/16 "2013-05-03T19:59:04Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Abortion and emergency contraception should be limited to those cases where it is absolutely necessary. Those cases would include at a bare minimum any time a woman is or might be pregnant when she does not want to be. Absolute poetry. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/17 "2013-05-03T20:23:03Z")
There should be no police involvement in abortion at any stage, barring cases that would otherwise fall under the category of medical malpractice or insurance fraud and such. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/18 "2013-05-03T21:06:13Z")
Absolutely fucking hell no. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/19 "2013-05-04T00:02:09Z")
> [@kellner](#): > > You seem to be confusing emergency contraception, which is an abortion as much or as little as the normal pill, with Mifepristone (RU486/Mifeprex/Mifegyne), the actual abortion pill. > [@etv78](#): > > TY **kellner** for fighting my ignorance! This thread seems incredibly moot now. What difference does it make? Why would the police be involved in either case? ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385/20 "2013-05-12T13:19:23Z")
> [@kellner](#): > > You seem to be confusing emergency contraception, which is an abortion as much or as little as the normal pill, with Mifepristone (RU486/Mifeprex/Mifegyne), the actual abortion pill. As well as being an abortion pill, Mifepristone (RU486/Mifeprex/Mifegyne) is also an effective emergency contraceptive pill. With lesser side effects than the massive hormone dose used for traditional emergency contraception. Conception make happen several days after impregnation. Mifepristone (RU486/Mifeprex/Mifegyne) prevents ovulation, fertilization, and implantation. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385.md?page=2)