Reminder of Hospital Requirements Pertaining to Victims
of Sexual Assualt
PDF Version of DQA Memo 10-019
(PDF, 39 KB)
| Date: |
July 14, 2010 -- DQA Memo 10-019 |
| To: |
Hospitals HOSP 06 |
| From: |
Cremear Mims, Director
Bureau of Health Services |
| Via: |
Otis Woods, Administrator
Division of Quality Assurance
|
Reminder of Hospital Requirements Pertaining to Victims of
Sexual Assault
This purpose of this memorandum is to remind all hospitals of the
requirements under Wis. Stat. § 50.375, which became effective on March 28,
2008. This law requires every hospital to provide a victim of sexual assault
with specific information about the use and efficacy of emergency
contraception. The law also requires, upon the victim's request, that the
hospital provide emergency contraception to the victim. Hospitals that fail
to comply with these requirements are subject to a forfeiture of not less
than $2,500 or more than $5,000 for each violation.
The Department of Health Services is responsible for ensuring that
hospitals comply with the requirements of Wis. Stat. § 50.375, and is
authorized to directly assess forfeitures for violations of the law. Wis.
Stat. § 50.375(5).
The Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health recently informed the
Department about the results of a survey the Alliance had conducted of
Wisconsin Hospitals. The survey results show that a significant number of
Wisconsin hospitals are failing to comply with Wis. Stat. § 50.375 by
self-reporting that they do not consistently provide information about
emergency contraception or do not provide emergency contraception to victims
of sexual assault.
On April 15, 2008 the Department of Health Service/Division of Quality
Assurance (DQA) notified all hospitals about the new law and the
consequences for failure to comply with the Wis. Stat. § 50.375 (DQA memo
08-010). The memo can be found at: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_DSL/Publications/08-010.htm
The Department of Health Services/Division of Quality Assurance is
sending this memo as a reminder to all hospitals and asking all hospital
administrators to remind their staff of their responsibilities under the
law.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions
about this information, please contact Cremear Mims, Director, Bureau of
Health Services at (414) 227-4556 or (608) 264-9887.
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Last Updated: September 30, 2011
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