Ncqy's Blog for Health Tips

3.5 (4 votes)

Healthcare Prof:

2 (1 votes)

Article Opinions:1 posts
Thirteen of the 79 Iowa judges who are running in the November election responded to a questionnaire sent by a conservative group that asked the judges to share their views on abortion rights and other problems, the AP/WHO-TV reports (Lorentzen, AP/WHO-TV, 9/6). The five-page questionnaire was sent by the group Iowans Concerned About Judges — a coalition made up of the American Family Association, Concerned Women for America of Iowa, Focus on the Household, Iowa Christian Alliance, Iowa Loved ones Policy Center and Professional Educators of Iowa. Of the 13 who responded, many sent letters declining to answer specific questions. Chuck Hurley, president of the IFPC, stated, “The disappointment is that the responses saying that to answer would harm their impartiality doesn’t accord with all the clear U.S. Supreme Court ruling saying it would not” (Lorentzen, Associated Press, 9/6). The Supreme Court in June 2002 ruled in a 5-4 choice that Minnesota state judicial candidates have a proper to free speech throughout campaigns and may possibly openly discuss their views on problems such as abortion (Kaiser Daily Women’s Well being Policy Report, 3/24/05). Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Louis Lavorato stated, “If a judge announces a position on an issue, which the judge has every proper to do, the judge’s impartiality may be called into question, and the judge might have to decline handling instances involving that issue” (Gearino, Quad City Times, 9/6). Nancy Tabor, a judge in the state’s seventh judicial district, wrote in her response to the questionnaire that potential recusals caused by stating positions on issues “may be essential, causing delays and possible harm to litigants.” Hurley stated a number of the judges who responded “did say they are strict constructionists, which can be a good beginning for informed voters in Iowa.” The state appoints judges by a merit-based system, and state residents can vote to retain or remove a judge every eight years (Associated Press, 9/6).

“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the whole Kaiser Everyday Wellness Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for e-mail delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Day-to-day Well being Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free of charge service with the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . ? 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family members Foundation. All rights reserved.

1 (1 votes)

Healthcare Prof:

3 (1 votes)

The antiabortion group Center for Bio-Ethical Reform last week began flying banners over Montana cities using the words “Stop the war” and “10-week abortion” and a picture of an aborted fetus, the Billings Gazette reports. The group has flown or plans to fly its banners, which also contain a get in touch with telephone number, more than Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell and Missoula just before the November election, the Gazette reports. Next week, the group plans to add another panel to the banner so that it reads “Stop the war … against the unborn.” The group also plans to drive trucks with billboards attached depicting antiabortion text and aborted fetuses into Montana cities through election day. CBR President Gregg Cunningham said the group aims primarily not to finish abortion but to “reform the pro-life movement,” adding, “Americans venerate choice. … It falls on us to move the debate away from choice to what is chosen.” Stacey James, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Montana, said PPM likely does not have plans to counter CBER but will support prepare patient escorts and staff members for potential demonstrations “just so they’re prepared for it and know it’s coming.” Jason Klindt, spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), stated he isn’t familiar with CBER or its initiative in Montana. Spokespeople for state Senate President Jon Tester (D), who is running for Burns’ Senate seat in November, could not be reached for comment, the Gazette reports (Kemmick, Billings Gazette, 9/6).

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

4 (1 votes)

Healthcare Prof:

The following highlights current news of state action on women’s wellness concerns.

three (1 votes)

Healthcare Prof:

5 (2 votes)

Common Sense 2006, an Ohio-based group “targeting candidates who support abortion rights,” has launched a so-called “push poll” criticizing Sen. Lincoln Chafee’s (R- R.I.) stance on abortion rights in an try to weaken his support prior to the state Republican main on Tuesday, many voters in Rhode Island said, the AP/Eyewitness News reports. A push poll is designed to ask questions to minimize or increase support for a particular candidate, the AP/Eyewitness News reports. A number of voters received automated telephone calls asking which candidate — Chafee, who supports abortion rights, or Senate candidate and Cranston, R.I., Mayor Stephen Laffey (R) — they would vote for within the main. People that said they would vote for Chafee “heard graphic descriptions of an abortion process opponents call ‘partial-birth abortion,’ which the poll stated Chafee supports,” based on AP/Eyewitness News. Laffey spokesperson Nachama Soloveichik stated the campaign was not involved within the poll, and Common Sense 2006 has not commented. Typical Sense 2006 also has launched negative TV ads against Ohio gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland (D), who supports abortion rights, AP/Eyewitness News reports (Johnson, AP/Eyewitness News, 9/7).

“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You’ll be able 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 Day-to-day Wellness Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a cost-free service with the Henry J. Kaiser Household Foundation . ? 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Loved ones Foundation. All rights reserved.

Healthcare Prof:

Some antiabortion groups in recent years have opened pregnancy counseling centers in or near facilities that supply abortions and are offering “medical services,” including sonograms, to pregnant girls who visit the centers, the Washington Post reports. According to Heartbeat International, which operates a network of pregnancy centers, the number of centers within the U.S. that oppose abortion since 1999 has elevated 30% to at least two,200, with 561 of those offering medical services. According to the Post, abortion rights advocates say about 1,800 clinics within the country offer abortion services. A July report conducted by the Democratic staff of the House Government Reform Agency finds that since 1999, the federal government has distributed about $30 million to pregnancy counseling centers that oppose abortion, along with the law firm Americans United for Life estimates that about 20 states present funding for pregnancy counseling centers that oppose abortion. In accordance with the Post, ultrasound machines are the “centerpiece” of the centers’ “medical advances.” Focus on the Household, a group that opposes abortion rights, says it has purchased ultrasound machines for about 200 pregnancy centers since 2004. Heartbeat International says some clinics also offer prenatal care and tests for sexually transmitted infections. Most advocate sexual abstinence and don’t help ladies obtain contraception, the Post reports. “We are very careful that everything we present is 100% factual,” Peggy Hartshorn, president of Heartbeat International, said. However, the National Abortion Federation, which supports abortion rights, says it has received hundreds of calls or e-mails from girls who say they received false or deceptive information right after visiting the centers, which the females said had confusing names or had been under “abortion services” within the phone book. Some abortion right supporters also say that the increasing number of centers is actually a “dangerous trend” due to the fact they “confus[e] vulnerable women” and “mi[x] a seemingly neutral clinical environment with a religious agenda,” the Post reports. Pam Palumbo — executive director of the Bowie Crofton Pregnancy Center in Bowie, Md. — stated pregnancy centers aim to locate “where ladies will be searching for abortions” similar to how “McDonald’s and Starbucks look for competitors to be next to” (Chandler, Washington Post, 9/9).

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

Healthcare Prof:

Australia’s Foreign Minister Alexander Downer recently asked for a review of the government’s ban on funding for abortion services in other countries, Sharman Stone, minister for workforce participation, said on Sunday, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Australia’s foreign assistance agency AusAID since 1996 has been barred from funding programs that present abortion services, training or medical abortion drugs. Stone, who chairs the bipartisan Parliamentary Group on Population and Development, said, “Clearly, the rights and plight of girls are intimately tied up with reproductive well being,” adding that the committee he chairs supports Downer’s decision to review the policy (Metherell, Sydney Morning Herald, 9/11). The committee on Monday was scheduled to hold a discussion on the policy, the AAP/Age reports. Suzanne Belton, a researcher at Charles Darwin University, in a written statement submitted to the committee said, “We cannot continue to cordon off abortion as though it doesn’t happen,” adding, “In order to reduce maternal mortality, Australian aid money really should focus on the prevention of unwanted and mistimed pregnancies and access to high-quality post-abortion care and safe abortion.” About 11% of AusAID funds from 2004 through 2005 went toward health-related programs, which includes 7% toward reproductive well being initiatives (AAP/Age, 9/10). Belton said at least 13% of maternal deaths worldwide are caused by abortion-related complications, adding that many countries around Australia have a shortfall in household planning funding. Based on the Morning Herald, Health Minister Tony Abbott has stated he supports the current policy and likely will oppose any changes (Sydney Morning Herald, 9/11).

“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 e-mail delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Day-to-day Well being Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a totally free service of the Henry J. Kaiser Household Foundation . ? 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Loved ones Foundation. All rights reserved.

3 (1 votes)

Healthcare Prof:

Nine states along with the District of Columbia on Tuesday held main elections, and many of the races involved women’s well being problems. Outcomes from these races appear below.

3 (1 votes)

Healthcare Prof:

5 (two votes)

Easy availability of emergency contraception does not have a notable impact on rates of pregnancy and abortion, based on an editorial in this week’s BMJ.

The usefulness of emergency contraception is questioned by Professor Anna Glasier, director of loved ones preparing and nicely woman services of Lothian Main Care NHS Trust, Edinburgh, who says it does aid some girls some of the time, who don’t desire to get pregnant.

Use of this type of contraception has increased within the UK in current years and whereas 1% of girls requesting an abortion in 1984 stated they had utilised it to try and stop the pregnancy, 6% of ladies had accomplished so in 1996 and 12% in 2002.

Emergency contraception has been heralded as the resolution to rising abortion rates, says Professor Glasier, but in the UK, abortion rates have increased from 11 per 1,000 females aged 15-44 in 1984 (136,388 abortions) to 17.8 per 1,000 females in 2004 (185,400 abortions) despite the increased use of emergency contraception.

Ten different studies carried out in diverse countries showed that giving ladies a supply of emergency contraception to maintain at home elevated its use by twofold or threefold, but had no measurable impact on rates of pregnancy or abortion.

Most girls who did not use their supply, stated they did not realise they had put themselves at risk of pregnancy.

Professor Glasier writes: “If you will be looking for an intervention that can lessen abortion rates, emergency contraception might not be the solution and perhaps you ought to concentrate most on encouraging men and women to make use of contraception ahead of or in the course of sex, not soon after it.”

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Contact: Emma Dickinson
BMJ-British Medical Journal

Healthcare Prof:

5 (1 votes)

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), who opposes abortion rights, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who supports abortion rights, as well as other House Democrats on Thursday at a press conference announced the introduction of legislation (HR 6067) that aims to decrease the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions, Copley/Canton Repository reports (Krawzak, Copley/Canton Repository, 9/15). The bill, known as the Reducing the Require for Abortions and Supporting Parents Act, would need states to cover contraceptives for females with incomes of up to 200% with the federal poverty level, the Chicago Tribune reports. The bill also would establish grants for sex education programs and would call for programs having a focus on abstinence to incorporate thorough instruction on contraceptives (Dorning, Chicago Tribune, 9/14). The bill, which consists of 20 initiatives, also would improve funding for wellness care for low-income females with youngsters, supply no-cost visits from nurses to teens and women who have given birth for the first time, expand a tax credit for adoption and fund child care services for parents in college, the Youngstown Vindicator reports.

Support, Opposition
“Solving problems often needs us to build new coalitions,” Ryan, a member with the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, stated, adding, “Democrats are united in our efforts to significantly lessen the number of abortions in America by broadening the stagnant political debate that too often accompanies this issue.” Based on Ryan Keating, a spokesperson for Ryan, no Republicans were asked to sponsor the bill. “It’s hard adequate to get Democrats on board with this,” Keating said (Skolnick, Youngstown Vindicator, 9/15). DeLauro said the 10 co-sponsors with the legislation, all of whom are Democrats, are “serious about addressing the problem of abortion head-on, although protecting the privacy of females and their families.” Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-chair of the CPLC, stated the measure would “lead to much more abortions, not less” simply because the increased funding for contraception services would go to family planning clinics that offer abortion services at the same facility. In accordance with Copley/Repository, Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), the Democratic co-chair of the CPLC, does not support the legislation. A spokesperson for Oberstar said the bill will not win the backing with the whole caucus, which consists of about 200 Republicans and 35 Democrats, simply because of the contraception provisions. Democrats for Life of America Executive Director Kristen Day said her group also doesn’t support the measure. Based on Day, the group helped develop the bill but withdrew its support due to the fact with the pregnancy prevention emphasis. “Our goal is to assist pregnant females,” Day said, adding that she thinks Ryan’s goal is “more prevention and contraception” (Copley/Canton Repository, 9/15). Day said that the group subsequent week will introduce its own bill that focuses far more on supporting ladies who are pregnant (Oravecz, Warren Tribune Chronicle, 9/15). According to CongressDaily, the co-sponsors with the bill at the news conference stated the bill is unlikely to reach the full House for a vote, but they hope to set up introduction of a similar bill subsequent year (CongresDaily, 9/14).

“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You are 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 Daily Well being Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a cost-free service of the Henry J. Kaiser Loved ones Foundation . 2005 Advisory Board Firm and Kaiser Loved ones Foundation. All rights reserved.

Healthcare Prof:

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) plans to place a hold on President Bush’s nomination of acting FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach to permanently head the agency unless “immediate steps” are taken to remove Danco Laboratories’ medical abortion drug Mifeprex from the market, DeMint press secretary Wesley Denton said recently, the New York Times reports (Harris, New York Times, 9/15). FDA in 2000 approved the sale of Mifeprex — identified generically as mifepristone — to be utilized with misoprostol to induce a medical abortion, and more than 575,000 females have taken the drug considering that its approval, based on the National Abortion Federation. Specialists in May known as for a lot more analysis into the causes of infection from the rare and potentially fatal bacterium Clostridium sordellii and other bacteria in females who were pregnant, some of whom took medical abortion drugs(Kaiser Daily Women’s Health Policy Report, 5/12).

Senators Promise Holds
“Sen. DeMint believes that a qualified FDA nominee would publicly discourage [Mifeprex's] use and take immediate actions to eliminate it from the industry,” Denton said, adding, “We’ve reached a breaking point here, and the senator’s not going to budge until they wake up more than at FDA.” The Senate Committee on Well being, Education, Labor and Pensions on Wednesday is expected to approve von Eschenbach’s nomination, but any senator can place a hold on full Senate consideration of such nominations. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) also has said he would place a hold on the nomination until the Bush administration makes it possible for U.S. residents to buy U.S.- produced prescription drugs from abroad. According to the Times, FDA is unlikely to create any “substantive moves” in regard to either DeMint’s or Vitter’s requests. Susan Bro, senior communications adviser at FDA, stated, “We’re certain both the Senate and FDA are in mutual agreement that what’s crucial to ensuring the best interest of all Americans is permanent leadership in the FDA” (New York Times, 9/15).

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