Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest Abortion News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/abortion/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171625.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171625.php The leaders of four antiabortion-rights groups on Tuesday announced that they will band together to oppose a proposed ballot measure that seeks to amend Nevada's Constitution to define people as "everyone possessing a human genome" from the moment of conception, the AP/San Jose Mercury News reports. Abortion Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171633.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171633.php There is "crystal clear" evidence that family planning "is one of the best -- and perhaps the very best -- strategy for women in the United States and across the world to improve their health and well-being, as well as that of their offspring," write Eva Moore, a fellow in adolescent medicine at Johns Hopkins Medical School's Abortion Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171624.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171624.php A New Jersey public high school student last week filed a federal lawsuit alleging that her free-speech and religious-freedom rights were violated when her school's administrators prohibited her from participating in an antiabortion-rights protest last month, the AP/Google News reports. Abortion Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171628.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171628.php Several newspapers recently published opinion pieces regarding an amendment sponsored by Reps. Bart Stupak's (D-Mich.) and Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) to the House health care reform bill (HR 3962) that would prohibit abortion coverage in private and public health plans that receive federal subsidies. Summaries appear below. Abortion Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171642.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171642.php The New York Times reports that "the health care proposals from the House and the Senate are broadly similar but differ on some major issues." It reports on five issues - the public plan, employer contribution, abortion, illegal immigrants and financing - and puts differences in bold type (11/19). Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171626.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171626.php About 40 antiabortion-rights advocates protested a "bubble zone" ordinance on Tuesday at a North Side Planned Parenthood clinic in Chicago, the Chicago Tribune reports. The measure took effect on Wednesday. Abortion Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171622.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171622.php Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday unveiled the chamber's version of health care reform legislation, which he said would extend coverage to 31 million uninsured U.S. residents while reducing the federal deficit, the New York Times reports. Abortion Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171486.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171486.php The inclusion in the House health reform bill of an anti-abortion amendment sponsored by Michigan Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak is causing division and debate among Democrats. Abortion Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171474.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171474.php The Senate on Tuesday voted 70-29 to allow debate on federal appeals court nominee David Hamilton, ending a GOP filibuster and setting up a final confirmation vote that could occur this week, Roll Call reports (Brady, Roll Call, 11/17). Hamilton's confirmation has been stalled since June, when the Senate Judiciary Committee gave him a favorable recommendation to the Senate, the Abortion Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171481.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171481.php Several newspapers recently published opinion pieces regarding Rep. Bart Stupak's (D-Mich.) amendment to the House health care reform bill (HR 3962). The amendment would prohibit abortion coverage in private and public health plans in the proposed health exchange that receive federal subsidies. Summaries appear below. Abortion Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171506.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171506.php What Our Amendment Does Politico Rather than work with us to find a true compromise, members who support abortion rights ignored our concerns (Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., 11/18). Abortion Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171472.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171472.php Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is expected to release details of his health care reform bill to members of the Democratic caucus on Wednesday, setting up a possible weekend vote on cloture on the motion to proceed, CongressDaily reports. According to Reid spokesperson Jim Manley, Reid expects to have the final Congressional Budget Office scores of the bill before a 5 p.m. meeting with the caucus. Abortion Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171479.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171479.php "A clear understanding of the structure of the health care proposals currently under consideration" in the House shows why Rep. Bart Stupak's (D-Mich.) amendment to the chamber's health reform bill (HR 3962) "is such a threat to abortion rights," Jeffrey Toobin writes in a Abortion Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171478.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171478.php A Baltimore bill (FID 09-0406) to require crisis pregnancy centers to post signs stating that they do not provide abortion services is progressing through the City Council, WBAL reports. The council voted 12-3 in favor of the bill, which now moves on to a third and final vote. Pregnancy / Obstetrics Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171477.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171477.php Conflicts over Rep. Bart Stupak's (D-Mich.) antiabortion amendment to the House health reform bill (HR 3962) have helped put the issue of abortion rights at "center stage" in Massachusetts' special election to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D), Abortion Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171317.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171317.php Several newspapers recently included opinion pieces and an editorial regarding the House's approval of Rep. Bart Stupak's (D-Mich.) amendment to the chamber's health reform bill (HR 3962). Abortion Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171325.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171325.php Despite widespread debate, abortion restrictions in the House health reform bill could affect only a small number of women. Meanwhile, Catholic bishops weigh into the debate and abortion rights group plan a rally to contest the restrictions. The Wall Street Journal reports that the restrictions were included "to ensure that no taxpayer dollars fund abortion. Abortion Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171319.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171319.php The following summarizes selected women's health-related blog entries. ~ "DeGette: Stupak Agenda Is Much Wider Restrictions on Abortion," Brian Beutler, Talking Points Memo: Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) "takes issue" with Rep. Bart Stupak's (D-Mich. Abortion Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171322.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171322.php Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is planning a "key test vote by the end of the week" on a health reform bill, according to Senate aides, Politico reports. "The vote on a motion to proceed to the bill could come as early as Friday, teeing up the amendment process to begin after the Thanksgiving break." Reid may keep the Senate in session over the weekend (Budoff Brown, 11/17). Health Insurance / Medical Insurance Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171309.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171309.php Abortion-rights advocacy groups are ramping up advertising campaigns and lobbying efforts to prevent Rep. Bart Stupak's (D-Mich.) antiabortion amendment to the House health reform bill (HR 3962) from being included in the Senate's version of the legislation, CongressDaily reports. Abortion Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171136.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171136.php Senate Republicans and conservative activists appear to be at an impasse over whether to attempt to filibuster President Obama's nomination of Indiana Judge David Hamilton to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, The Hill reports (Bolton, The Hill, 11/15). Women's Health / Gynecology Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171139.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171139.php Rep. Bart Stupak's (D-Mich.) amendment to the House health reform bill (HR 3962) "could effectively eliminate insurance coverage of abortion services, not just for publicly funded insurance, but for most individual private plans as well," Brietta Clark and Karl Manheim, law professors at Abortion Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171138.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171138.php The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood have filed a legal challenge to a proposed ballot measure that seeks to amend Nevada's Constitution to define people as "everyone possessing a human genome" from the moment of conception, the Abortion Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171134.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171134.php The issue of abortion coverage has put abortion-rights supporters in Congress at odds over whether to support health care reform legislation, the New York Times' "Prescriptions" blog reports. The House bill (HR 3962) that Abortion Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171144.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171144.php Newspapers continue to report on the Stupak amendment to the House health bill and how it will affect access to abortion. "[T]he Stupak amendment, named for Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), would ban individuals from using new government subsidies to buy insurance plans that cover abortion, and it would prohibit a government-operated plan - the public option - from carrying abortion coverage," Abortion