four (2 votes)

Healthcare Prof:

Florida abortion provider James Pendergraft, whose license was suspended by the Florida Department of Well being earlier this month, on Tuesday appealed the suspension to the 1st District Court in Tallahassee, the Orlando Sentinel reports (Shelton, Orlando Sentinel, 8/23). Pendergraft’s license was suspended earlier this month simply because he allegedly showed a “flagrant disregard for the laws of the state of Florida and a willingness to endanger the lives and health of pregnant patients.” Third-trimester abortions are illegal in Florida except to “save the life or preserve the wellness of the pregnant woman,” in which case, the law requires that the process be certified by two physicians and that it be performed in a hospital. According to the state, Pendergraft in 2004 and 2005 “endangered two female patients by performing third-trimester abortions outside a hospital setting and with out concurring certification from a second physician.” Pendergraft’s attorney Robert Buonauro stated Pendergraft “operated within the (medical) guidelines and protocol” with the state and “had the suitable certification” for the abortion he performed in July 2005. Buonauro added that the woman involved in the 2004 abortion was in her second trimester (Kaiser Daily Women’s Wellness Policy Report, 8/21). However, state documents say that Pendergraft did not correctly identify the fetus’ gestational age. Pendergraft stated the woman was at 22 or 23 weeks’ gestation, but the state documents say the woman actually was at 25 to 27 weeks’ gestation (Orlando Sentinel, 8/23). The suspension means that Pendergraft cannot practice medicine until the state Board of Medicine reviews his case (Kaiser Day-to-day Women’s Health Policy Report, 8/21).

Appeal Details
The appeal asked the court to review the wellness department’s claims and to reinstate Pendergraft’s medical license, the Sentinel reports (Orlando Sentinel, 8/23). Pendergraft in the appeal stated that he had the authority required to perform the procedures and that he had stopped providing third-trimester abortions following learning of the rule’s requirements that they be performed in a hospital (AP/Washington Post, 8/23). Pendergraft’s spokesperson Marti Mackenzie said that neither abortion involved a woman in her third trimester, adding, “[C]lose scrutiny” with the records of the woman involved inside the July 2005 procedure “reveals the procedure was performed at 24 weeks and six days — a second-trimester abortion.” The appeal also says the state filed the suspension with the intention of causing him “professional embarrassment and negative publicity,” as nicely as “maximum disruption of services to patients” (Orlando Sentinel, 8/23). Health department spokesperson Thometta Cozart said the agency had not yet reviewed Pendergraft’s appeal and as a result could not comment (AP/Washington Post, 8/23). The state Agency for Well being Care Administration last week also indefinitely restricted two clinics that Pendergraft partially owns from performing abortions and temporarily has restricted 3 others that Pendergraft partially owns, in accordance with agency documents (Kaiser Daily Women’s Wellness Policy Report, 8/21). Mackenzie said the lawyers are preparing separate appeals for each with the clinics (Orlando Sentinel, 8/23).

“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 Every day Wellness Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a cost-free service with the Henry J. Kaiser Loved ones Foundation . ? 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Loved ones Foundation. All rights reserved.

3.75 (4 votes)

Healthcare Prof:

4.five (2 votes)

Article Opinions:1 posts
Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.), who’s searching for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate race in Florida, last week in an interview for the Florida Baptist Witness, stated, “If you’re not electing Christians, then in essence you’re going to legislate sin,” such as abortion rights, the Orlando Sentinel reports (Stratton, Washington Post, 8/26). She added that when Christians elect non-Christian leaders, and they “say abortion is permissible … then average citizens who are not Christians, due to the fact they don’t know better,” are “le[d] astray, and it’s wrong.” Harris within the interview also talked about limiting abortion rights except in cases of rape, incest or when the life with the mother is in danger; supporting abstinence-only education; and opposing human embryonic stem cell investigation (Florida Baptist Witness, 8/24). Harris Campaign spokesperson Jennifer Marks has released a statement that says that Harris “continues to be an unwavering advocate of religious rights and freedoms” (Orlando Sentinel, 8/26).

“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. It is possible to view the entire Kaiser Day-to-day Well being Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for e-mail 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 members Foundation . ? 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family members Foundation. All rights reserved.

3 (1 votes)

Healthcare Prof:

1 (1 votes)

The Washington Post on Monday examined the impact of a South Dakota law (HB 1215) that bans abortion except to save a woman’s life on the November election (Slevin, Washington Post, 8/28). The ban, which has not yet taken effect, will be on the statewide ballot in November. If approved, the law would take impact and then likely would be challenged in court (Kaiser Day-to-day Women’s Well being Policy Report, 8/2). As a result with the law, the state is the “unlikely home of this year’s most intense duel over abortion,” and “[p]artisans across the nation are delivering money and tactical advice” to men and women on both sides of the debate, in accordance with the Post. In addition, “South Dakota’s fight could be a harbinger of political battles” nationwide if the Supreme Court votes to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that effectively barred state abortion bans, the Post reports (Washington Post, 8/28).

“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. It is possible to view the entire Kaiser Day-to-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 Wellness Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service with the Henry J. Kaiser Household Foundation . ? 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

3.25 (8 votes)

Healthcare Prof:

2 (two votes)

The first legal abortion in Colombia recently was performed following the legalization with the procedure in certain situations earlier this year, BBC News reports (McDermott, BBC News, 8/25). The country’s highest court, the Constitutional Court, in May possibly voted to effectively legalize abortion in cases of rape, incest, to save the life with the woman or when the fetus is expected to die after birth since of severe fetal abnormalities. Under the ruling, abortion in all other situations still will carry a sentence of up to 3 years in prison for the woman undergoing an abortion and for the physician performing the procedure (Kaiser Daily Women’s Wellness Policy Report, 5/12). According to BBC News, the abortion was performed on an 11-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by her stepfather. Regardless of the May ruling, the girl’s case had to seem just before the Constitutional Court, which authorized the procedure. Some abortion-rights supporters within the country stated the May possibly decision was the “first logical step to a general legalization of abortion,” but the “fury aroused throughout this abortion” might mean it is “still a way off,” BBC News reports. The Catholic Church has “condemned” the process, and protestors gathered outside the hospital where the abortion was performed, according to BBC News (BBC News, 8/25).

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

four.5 (two votes)

Healthcare Prof:

5 (1 votes)

Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline (R), who is running for re-election in November, on Friday said he not was trying to further a political agenda but to protect children when he sought access to the medical records of 90 girls and girls who in 2003 underwent late-term abortions at two clinics, the Dodge City Day-to-day Globe reports (Swanson, Dodge City Day-to-day Globe, 8/30). Kline in 2004 subpoenaed the records from the two clinics — Comprehensive Health, which is operated by Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri in Overland Park, Kan., and Women’s Wellness Care Services in Wichita, Kan. — simply because he believes there is probable cause that each record contains evidence of felony. The original subpoena asked that the records include each patient’s name, medical history, birth control practices, psychological profile and sexual history, and asked for the records of all ladies and girls who sought abortions at or soon after 22 weeks’ gestation. The clinics in March 2005 filed a brief together with the state Supreme Court requesting that the court block Kline’s subpoena. The Kansas Supreme Court in February ruled that Kline can seek access to the records but that he must return to Shawnee County, Kan., District Court and present his reasons for seeking the subpoenas and any information not related to potential violations of state laws on late-term abortions or child abuse must be eliminated from the records (Kaiser Day-to-day Women’s Wellness Policy Report, 2/6).

Opponent Says Kline’s Request Invaded Medical Privacy
Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison (D), who is running against Kline for state lawyer general, has stated Kline’s request was an invasion of medical privacy, the Topeka Capital-Journal reports (Moon, Topeka Capital-Journal, 8/30). “It is disingenuous for Mr. Kline to try to justify his serious violation of privacy by claiming to investigate child rape because three-quarters of the records belong to adult women,” Morrison said in an e-mail. Kline stated, “When I have a 10-year-old who gets pregnant and gets a late-term abortion and was impregnated at the age of nine, and no one calls the police, I don’t take into account it a narrow agenda to attempt and bring her rapist to justice” (Dodge City Everyday Globe, 8/30).

Endorsements
In related news, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) on Tuesday endorsed Kline, saying that both Kline and Morrison “subpoena medical records regularly” (Lefler, Wichita Eagle, 8/30). Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon (D) endorsed Morrison, saying in a Kansas Democratic Party release that the job of state attorney general is “about keeping Kansans secure. It is just not a pulpit for personal agendas” (Topeka Capital-Journal, 8/30).

“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. It is possible 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 Everyday Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a cost-free service of the Henry J. Kaiser Family members Foundation . ? 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Loved ones Foundation. All rights reserved.

4.5 (two votes)

Healthcare Prof:

A Colombian news report on Tuesday “sparked controversy” soon after reporting that a Vatican official threatened to excommunicate physicians who perform abortions in the country, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports (AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 8/30). The country’s highest court, the Constitutional Court, in Might voted to efficiently legalize abortion in instances of rape, incest, to save the life with the woman or when the fetus is expected to die after birth because of severe fetal abnormalities. Under the ruling, abortion in all other circumstances still will carry a sentence of up to three years in prison for the woman undergoing an abortion and for the physician performing the process. The first legal abortion inside the country recently was performed (Kaiser Day-to-day Women’s Health Policy Report, 8/28). According to a news report from Colombia’s RCN television, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Household, said, “Every Christian Catholic who submits to an abortion, whether it be directly or indirectly, will be excommunicated” (AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 8/30). RCN also reported that Trujillo stated physicians, nurses, “relatives, politicians and lawmakers” associated together with the process needs to be excommunicated (Brodzinsky, Guardian, 8/31). Trujillo in an interview with Caracol Radio denied the news report, saying, “I have not stated that, nor has the Holy See, nor have I thought it” (AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 8/30). Monsignor Libardo Ramirez, president of Colombia’s ecclesiastic tribunal, stated that according to canonical law, excommunication applies to any person who participates in the “murder of a child in the womb.” He added that it would be up to Cardinal Rubiano Saenz, who’s the leading figure of the Roman Catholic church in Colombia, to decide whether to formally apply the sanctions (Guardian, 8/31). As many as 400,000 illegal abortions occur annually in Colombia, the majority of which are performed in unsanitary, clandestine clinics (Kaiser Day-to-day Women’s Well being Policy Report, 5/12).

“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Wellness Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email 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 Family members Foundation. All rights reserved.

Healthcare Prof:

The following highlights recent election-related news on women’s health issues.

Healthcare Prof:

4 (1 votes)

The Texas Medical Board last week adopted rules requiring physicians to gain written and notarized parental consent ahead of performing an abortion on a minor, the Houston Chronicle reports (Ross Hughes, Houston Chronicle, 9/1). Under a state law, which Gov. Rick Perry (R) signed in June 2005, physicians are necessary to obtain signed consent from a parent or guardian ahead of performing an abortion on a minor. Failure to follow the law can result in a license violation. The law makes it possible for for judicial bypass in instances of potential abuse or in cases exactly where the minor is deemed mature enough to make the choice on her own. Previously, parents of minors looking for abortion had to be notified 48 hours just before the procedure but parental permission was not necessary (Kaiser Day-to-day Women’s Wellness Policy Report, 8/30/05). The law took effect Sept. 1, 2005, but the state medical board, which was in charge of implementing the law, didn’t adopt the consent form until last week. The six-page form includes information about the medical risks associated with abortion and “women’s-right-to-know” brochures. Joe Pojman, executive director of Texas Alliance for Life, stated the adopted rules need signatures with the abortion provider, guardian and minor on consent forms. Physicians also are required to make use of “due diligence” to verify the age of the minor, based on the rules. The board plans to send a copy with the adopted parental consent rules to the Texas Register next week, and also the rules will take effect within 20 days, the Chronicle reports. Donald Patrick, executive director with the state medical board, said Perry’s office has endorsed the final consent form (Houston Chronicle, 9/1).

“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You’ll be able to view the entire Kaiser Everyday 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 Well being Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a totally free service with the Henry J. Kaiser Loved ones Foundation . ? 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Loved ones Foundation. All rights reserved.

Healthcare Prof:

Florida Lawyer Common Charlie Crist (R) — who has stated he would sign a bill into law that bans abortions with exceptions in situations of rape, incest or if the life with the woman is in danger — on Tuesday won the Republican gubernatorial primary over state Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, the New York Times reports. U.S. Rep. Jim Davis (D), who has said he strongly opposes banning abortion, won the Democratic primary for governor more than state Sen. Rod Smith (Goodnough, New York Times, 9/6). Davis in March criticized Crist’s stance on an abortion ban, saying, “Politicians should stay out with the difficult, personal decisions about life and death that Floridians and their families face every day” (Kaiser Day-to-day Women’s Health Policy Report, 3/27). Crist — who described his views on abortion rights as “pro-choice” in a 1998 U.S. Senate race against former Sen. Bob Graham (D) — has said he would sign an abortion ban but would not urge the state Legislature to implement one. He also has said that he doesn’t support a proposal by Gallagher that the state ought to require a 24-hour waiting period prior to a physician can perform an abortion so women can receive counseling on alternatives to the procedure (Kaiser Daily Women’s Well being Policy Report, 8/21). According to the Miami Herald, Crist “gamely” held off Gallagher’s assertions in two debates that he was a “liberal” who supports some abortion rights and embryonic stem cell analysis (Reinhard et al., Miami Herald, 9/6).

Katherine Harris Wins Senate Main
U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.) on Tuesday won the Republican main for U.S. Senate and in November will run against incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), the Los Angeles Times reports (Williams, Los Angeles Times, 9/6). Harris beat attorney Will McBride, retired Adm. LeRoy Collins and developer Peter Monroe, all of whom filed to enter the race just before the Could deadline, to win the Republican nomination (New York Times, 9/6). Harris last month in an interview using the Florida Baptist Witness, said, “If you’re not electing Christians, then in essence you might be going to legislate sin,” such as abortion rights. She added that when Christians elect non-Christian leaders, and they “say abortion is permissible … then average citizens who are not Christians, simply because they don’t know better,” are “le[d] astray, and it’s wrong.” Harris inside the interview also talked about limiting abortion rights except in instances of rape, incest or when the life with the mother is in danger; supporting abstinence-only education; and opposing human embryonic stem cell investigation (Kaiser Day-to-day Women’s Wellness Policy Report, 8/28).

“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You are able to view the whole Kaiser Day-to-day Well being 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 cost-free service with the Henry J. Kaiser Household Foundation . ? 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

four.5 (two votes)

Healthcare Prof:

1 (1 votes)

Most individuals living within the U.S. disagree together with the way liberals and Christian conservatives approach religious problems inside the public forum — including topics such as abortion and human embryonic stem cell study — based on a recently released national survey on politics and religion, the Los Angeles Times reports. For the survey — which was released last week — nonpartisan, Washington, D.C.-based study groups Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life and Pew Investigation Center conducted telephone interviews among 2,003 adults from July 6 through July 19. The survey has a sampling error of plus or minus 2.five percentage points (Kang, Los Angeles Times, 9/2). Based on the survey, 69% of respondents say that liberals have gone “too far in keeping religion out of schools and government,” and 49% “express reservations about attempts by Christian conservatives to impose their religious values” on the public (Pew Analysis Center, “Many Americans Uneasy With Mix of Religion and Politics,” 8/24). The survey also finds that 59% of participants who attend religious services at least once monthly say their religious leaders discuss issues such as abortion. The survey finds that 56% of people living in the U.S. are in favor of embryonic stem cell analysis, compared with 32% who oppose the research based on the belief that it destroys potential human life. In accordance with the Times, the new Pew survey is the first to find that more white Christian conservatives — 44% — support human embryonic stem cell investigation than the 40% who oppose it. When asked whether the Bible or voters’ opinions ought to have more influence over the nation’s law, 63% responded that voters’ opinions should be most influential, compared with 32% who favored the Bible. John Green, a senior fellow at PFRPL who worked on the survey, stated the findings show that U.S. residents are “particularly irritated” by the idea of removing religion from the public arena. “On the other hand, while they might agree that there must be more religion inside the public square, they don’t agree with the religious correct. That particular resolution is not the one they had in mind,” Green added (Los Angeles Times, 9/2).

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