ISOOU Health Body

Healthcare Prof:

Abortion-rights advocates on Tuesday expressed their anger and disappointment that Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) vetoed legislation… (SB 2073/HB 1643) that would expand access to emergency contraception and declared his antiabortion stance and disapproval of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court case that struck down state abortion bans, the Boston Globe reports. Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey (R) also sought to distinguish herself from Romney, affirming that she supports abortion rights and expanded access to EC (Lewis, Boston Globe, 7/27). Healey earlier this month said she would encourage Romney to sign a measure that would broaden access to EC, but she did not explicitly endorse any legislation (Kaiser Day-to-day Reproductive Wellness Report, 7/25). Even so, Romney on Monday vetoed the measure, which would need hospital emergency departments to provide EC to rape survivors and enable pharmacists to dispense EC to females with out a doctor’s prescription. Romney said signing the measure would have broken his 2002 campaign promise not to alter state abortion law since he believes that EC causes abortions by stopping a fertilized egg from implanting within the uterine wall. Throughout his 2002 campaign, Romney had suggested he would support wider access to EC, which can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse (Kaiser Everyday Reproductive Wellness Report, 7/26). Healey stated she supports Roe and urged Romney to sign the EC measure, but she added that she knew Romney may “come out differently” on the EC legislation, adding, “I gave him my advice and counsel, and he chose to go in a various direction.” Nancy Luther — a Republican state committee member and member of Republican Majority for Choice, which endorsed Romney in 2002 — said, “I’m quite disappointed,” adding, “He’s put his political future above the promises he created to Massachusetts.” Romney’s “new stance on abortion” convinced some Republicans that he may be pursuing a 2008 presidential nomination, in accordance with the Globe (Boston Globe, 7/27).

Romney’s Views Appealing to Conservatives
Romney on Monday outlined “an emphatically antiabortion position,” criticizing Roe and saying states ought to be allowed to decide the legality of abortion, which analysts say places him philosophically in the center of antiabortion advocates. Though some conservatives advocate for a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion, others seek the issue’s return to state legislatures since they think the majority of U.S. residents are not ready for an absolute ban. “It seems to me that Romney’s position … would appeal to most pro-life voters and most pragmatic pro-life activists,” David Boaz, executive vice president with the Cato Institute, said. Antiabortion advocate Hadley Arkes, a political science professor at Amherst College in Massachusetts, stated, “The individuals lengthy seasoned inside the [antiabortion] movement will find quite refined points where they’d desire to either quibble with him or offer instruction to him as a newfound friend,” adding, “But I believe individuals would see here the clear signs of somebody who desires to say he shares their perspective and desires to move in their direction” (Greenberger, Boston Globe, 7/27).

“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. It is possible to view the whole Kaiser Everyday Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Every day Well being Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a cost-free service of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

Healthcare Prof:

Seven female, Democratic senators on Thursday for the duration of a press conference said they’ll insist Supreme Court nominee Judge John Roberts state his opinion on privacy rights — which includes his views on… Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court case that struck down state abortion bans — prior to he is confirmed, the San Francisco Chronicle reports (Lochhead, San Francisco Chronicle, 7/29). Some observers say Roberts could tip the balance with the Supreme Court on the issue simply because retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was the deciding vote in numerous situations that upheld abortion rights. Roberts, who in 2003 was confirmed as a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, has in no way written a legal opinion on the issue as a judge (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Wellness Report, 7/28). At the press conference, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) stated the lack of documents on Roberts leaves “some confusion where he stands” on privacy rights, which includes abortion, adding, “There could be no confusion” (San Francisco Chronicle, 7/29). Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) said, “I desire to hear a nominee say that the [right to privacy] may be the basis for their philosophy,” adding, “If an individual says that, then I will likely be convinced that they truly think inside the right to privacy and will not be a member of the Supreme Court which will unsettle Roe v. Wade.” Cantwell acknowledged that the request amounts to a “litmus test,” the Washington Times reports. When the group of senators had been asked if they would support Roberts’ confirmation if he were to say Roe was wrongly decided, Boxer said she would locate it “impossible” to approve his nomination, although Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) said she would not speculate on her vote prior to the hearings. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) didn’t say regardless of whether she would support Roberts in that circumstance, but said that senators are interested in a lot more than just abortion rights (Hurt, Washington Times, 7/29).

Internet Web site, Other Involved Senators
The group of senators on Thursday also announced the creation of a Web site — democrats.senate.gov/askroberts — dedicated to searching for public input on what questions really should be asked for the duration of Roberts’ confirmation hearings, the Oakland Tribune reports. Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) also participated inside the press conference (Richman, Oakland Tribune, 7/29). Despite the fact that Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) was not in the press conference to announce the Net web site, Mikulski said it has her support (San Francisco Chronicle, 7/29).

“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You are able to view the entire Kaiser Everyday Wellness Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for e-mail delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Wellness Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service with the Henry J. Kaiser Household Foundation . 2005 Advisory Board Business and Kaiser Family members Foundation. All rights reserved.

1 (1 votes)

Healthcare Prof:

Approximately 185,415 legal abortions had been performed on women in England and Wales in 2004, a 2.1% boost more than 2003 and the highest number ever recorded, based on a… report published on Wednesday by the United Kingdom’s Department of Health, the Guardian reports. The overall abortion rate also increased from 17.five abortions per 1,000 women in 2003 to 17.8 abortions per 1,000 ladies in 2004. Almost 90% of the abortions took place during the very first 13 weeks of pregnancy, and about 60% occurred just before 10 weeks gestation. The abortion rate for girls under age 18 in England and Wales decreased from 18.2 abortions per 1,000 girls in 2003 to 17.8 per 1,000 in 2004. DOH and physicians said they had been disappointed by the figures (Meikle, Guardian, 7/28). Theresa Could, the Conservative Party’s Shadow Secretary of State for the Household, said decisive action is needed to further lessen teenage abortion rates, which DOH has pledged to halve by 2010 (Fletcher, Daily Express, 7/28). A DOH spokesperson stated that the number of teenage pregnancies has fallen by almost 10% because 1998 and that the British government will soon launch a new safe-sex education campaign targeting young people (Guardian, 7/28). Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists President Allan Templeton stated, “It is disappointing that following a number of years of no boost or falling abortion rates, there was a further boost this year. We really feel that this calls for further investigation and, in particular, the availability of fertility control in Britain” (Daily Express, 7/28).

“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. It is possible to view the entire Kaiser Every day Wellness Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for e-mail delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Everyday Wellness Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a cost-free service of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . 2005 Advisory Board Organization and Kaiser Family members Foundation. All rights reserved.

Healthcare Prof:

The International Herald Tribune on Wednesday examined the influence of antiabortion groups in Europe, where they’ve “made powerful inroads” in some countries — which includes Poland, Italy, Slovakia, Lithuania as well as the Netherlands — exactly where “a full array of women’s health services had been once taken for granted.” A lot of antiabortion groups in Europe are supported by the Roman Catholic Church and financed in part by similar groups based inside the U.S. Some European countries that location few restrictions on abortion currently are thinking about new limits on the process or getting rid of funding for abortion services and contraception provided under national health plans. Nevertheless, international antiabortion groups nonetheless say their political influence in Europe is a lot weaker than within the U.S. or Latin America. Ireland, Portugal, Malta and Poland are the regarded as to have essentially the most “strict legal limits” on abortion, in accordance with the Herald Tribune (Rosenthal, International Herald Tribune, 7/27).

International Herald Tribune

“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You’ll be able to view the whole Kaiser Every day Wellness Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Day-to-day Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a totally free service with the Henry J. Kaiser Loved ones Foundation . 2005 Advisory Board Firm and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.