Maryland has become the third state to outlaw controversial “do-it-yourself” rape kits. Gov. Wes Moore cemented this decision in April by approving emergency legislation passed during the 2024 legislative session, which became effective upon his signature.
The new law prohibits companies like Leda Health from selling or distributing commercial self-administered sexual assault kits in the state. Leda Health has argued that the ban deprives survivors of critical tools and has vowed to explore legal options to “combat this grave injustice,” but lawmakers and advocates have warned that these It claimed Kit was misleading and exploiting vulnerable people.
“I think this is a victory for sexual assault survivors,” said Sen. Shelley Hettleman, one of the bill's sponsors. He credited a Fox 45 News report, among others, for sounding the alarm over misinformation spread by Leda Health last summer about how the kits would work under Maryland's new law.
Concerns centered on the kits being inadmissible in court due to a series of detention issues and the inability to identify the perpetrators. Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger explained: “The effect of this kit is to give women who are in a very vulnerable state a false sense of security that they are doing something good for potential lawsuits, when in reality seven months later, One of my prosecutors may have to say, sorry, we can't use it.”
Lawmakers acknowledged gaps in the state's care that kept some survivors from reporting or seeking hospital treatment, but said the harm caused by these kits outweighed the perceived benefits. I decided that.
Alongside the ban, the Maryland General Assembly took steps to address the lack of sexual assault support services. New law allows hospitals without specialized forensic nurses to use telemedicine to virtually connect with qualified medical examiners at other facilities to ensure survivors receive appropriate care Become.
“There are not enough forensic nurses, so sometimes people go to the 'wrong' hospital and get sent to another hospital,” said Lisa Jordan of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault. “Basically, the scariest thing is having a door close in your face. Basically, what we want is to make sure the door stays open.”
As other states consider similar measures, Sen. Hettleman advised: Learn about promises and their accuracy. ”