- U.S. Diplomat Urges Release Of Advocate Who Challenged China's One-Child-Per-Family Policy
Assistant Secretary of State Ellen Sauerbrey, who is in charge of the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, in a meeting with Ru Xiaomei, deputy director of China's National Population and Family Planning Commission, called on Chinese officials to release human rights advocate Chen Guangcheng. - Florida Abortion Clinic Surrenders Operational License Amid Investigation
The Hialeah, Fla., clinic, A GYN Diagnostic Center, which provides abortion services, has surrendered its license to the state's Agency for Health Care Administration, rendering the center ineligible to practice medicine in the state, John Travers, the city's licensing administrator, said, the Miami Herald reports. - Alabama Health Officials Seek To Revise Unclear Abortion Clinic Regulations
Alabama health officials have concluded that regulations on abortion clinics are unclear and need to be revised, the AP/Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports. State Bureau of Health Provider Standards Director Rick Harris on Wednesday said, "We need to make sure the rules say what we're intending them to say," adding that revising regulations comes after alleged violations at the Summit Medical Center, a Birmingham abortion clinic (Hunter, AP/Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, 8/9). - China Denies Forced Late-Term Abortions Common; Country Against Practice
A Chinese official on Thursday denied that forced late-term abortions are common in the country and said that the country is against the practice, the AFP/Today Online reports. China's Vice Health Minister Jiang Zuojun at a news conference said, "Regarding the abortion of eight-month-old fetuses, this is definitely something the Chinese government is opposed to," adding, "We do not allow the abortion of elderly fetuses, such as eight-month fetuses. - Missouri Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Planned Parenthood Affiliates
The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled 4-3 that two Planned Parenthood affiliates are not required to repay $918,000 in state family planning grants that violated a state prohibition on funding for affiliates of abortion providers, the AP/Kansas City Star reports (Lieb, AP/Kansas City Star, 8/8). The state Supreme Court in April heard arguments in an appeal of a lower court ruling that required the Planned Parenthood affiliates to repay the grants. - Illinois Oversight Committee Approves Ruling Requiring Pharmacies That Sell EC To Post Signs
The Illinois Legislature's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules on Tuesday approved a rule that would require each of Illinois' 2,700 pharmacies to post a sign informing customers that pharmacists are required to dispense prescriptions for emergency contraception, the AP/Belleville News Democrat reports (Bellandi, AP/Belleville News Democrat, 8/8). - Barr To Amend Age Restriction In Application For Nonprescription Sales Of Plan B
Barr Laboratories will amend the age restriction in its application for nonprescription sales of its emergency contraceptive Plan B, but it cannot be accountable for pharmacies that do not abide by the restrictions, company CEO Bruce Downey said Wednesday, Reuters reports (Heavey, Reuters, 8/9). FDA in May 2004 issued a "not approvable" letter in response to an application originally submitted by pharmaceutical company Women's Capital for nonprescription sales of Plan B. - Massachusetts Gubernatorial Candidates Healey, Mihos Decline Answering Questionnaires
Massachusetts gubernatorial candidates Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey (R) and independent Christy Mihos have declined to fill out questionnaires submitted to the candidates by NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women and the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund, the Boston Globe reports (Silva, Boston Globe, 8/8). - Barr Laboratories To Resubmit Application For Nonprescription Sales Of Plan B
Barr Laboratories on Tuesday said that it will resubmit its application for nonprescription sales of its emergency contraceptive Plan B and that once FDA receives the application the agency will act quickly on a decision, the New York Times reports (Harris, New York Times, 8/9). FDA in May 2004 issued a "not approvable" letter in response to an application originally submitted by pharmaceutical company Women's Capital for nonprescription sales of Plan B. - Bills That Would Criminalize Assisting Minors To Circumvent Parental Notification Laws
A Senate-approved bill (S 403) that would allow federal charges to be filed against any individual who transports minors across state lines for the purpose of evading state abortion parental notification or consent laws, "would force" teens to make the decision to undergo the procedure "by themselves," without the support of an aunt, grandmother or clergy member, Lynn Harris, a member of the Haven Coalition, writes in a New York Times opinion piece. - Nearly Two-Thirds Of U.S. Adults Support Middle Ground On Abortion Rights, Have 'Split' Views
About 66% of U.S. adults support finding a "middle ground" on abortion-rights issues but have "split" views on the level of access to the procedure that should be permitted, according to a Pew Research Center for the People and the Press survey released Thursday, AFP/Yahoo! News reports (AFP/Yahoo! News, 8/3). The poll, which surveyed 2,003 U.S. - California Labor Organization Votes To Oppose Parental Notification Ballot Initiative
The California Labor Federation, the state's largest union group, last month "buck[ed] labor's long-standing neutrality" on abortion-related issues and voted to oppose Proposition 85 -- a statewide ballot measure that would require doctors to notify parents or guardians before performing an abortion on a minor -- the Los Angeles Times reports (Mathews, Los Angeles Times, 8/7). - Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report Summarizes Editorials On Nonprescription Sales Of Plan B
Chicago Tribune and Wall Street Journal editorials respond to a July 31 letter to Barr Laboratories' subsidiary Duramed Research from FDA in which acting FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach wrote that the agency is reconsidering the company's application to allow Barr's emergency contraceptive to be sold without a prescription to girls and women ages 16 and older. - FDA Scientist Was Told Nonprescription Plan B Application Would Be Rejected
FDA Deputy Commissioner for Operations Janet Woodcock in January 2004 said it was necessary for the agency to reject Barr Laboratories application for nonprescription sales of its emergency contraceptive Plan B in order "to appease the [Bush] administration's constituents," agency scientist Florence Houn testified in a deposition, which was released Thursday by the Center for Reproductive Rights, Reuters reports (Heavey, Reuters, 8/3). - Editorials, Opinion Pieces Respond To FDA's Announcement To Reconsider Plan B For Nonprescription
Some editorials and opinion pieces respond to a July 31 letter to Barr Laboratories' subsidiary Duramed Research from FDA in which acting FDA commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach wrote that FDA is reconsidering the company's application to allow Barr's emergency contraceptive to be sold without a prescription to girls and women ages 16 and older. - China Family Planning Commission Will Continue Enforcing Fines For Sex-Selective Abortions
The National Commission for Population and Family Planning of China will continue to punish clinics and individuals who are involved in sex-selective abortions for nonmedical reasons, even though the country's legislature recently decided against criminalizing the practice, Zhang Weiqing, the minister who oversees the commission, said recently, Xinhua/People's Daily reports (Xinhua/People's Daily, 8/2). - Barr Laboratories, FDA To Meet To Discuss Application For Nonprescription Sales Of Plan B
FDA and Barr Laboratories are scheduled to meet on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., to discuss the company's application for nonprescription sales of its emergency contraceptive Plan B, FDA spokesperson Susan Bro said Wednesday, Reuters reports (Reuters, 8/2). FDA in May 2004 issued a "not approvable" letter in response to an application originally submitted by pharmaceutical company Women's Capital for nonprescription sales of Plan B. - Editorials, Opinion Piece Respond To Bill That Would Criminalize Assisting Minors To Circumvent
Some editorials and an opinion piece respond to a bill (S 403) that would allow federal charges to be filed against any individual who transports minors across state lines for the purpose of evading state abortion parental notification or consent laws. - Majority Of South Dakotans Against State Abortion Ban, Poll Says
The majority of South Dakotans disapprove of a state law (HB 1215) that bans abortion except to save a woman's life, according to a KELO-TV/Sioux Falls Argus Leader poll released Monday, the AP/Washington Post reports (AP/Washington Post, 7/31). The ban, which has not yet taken effect, will be on the statewide ballot in November. If approved, the law would take effect and then likely would be challenged in court (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 7/25). - Senate Democrats Question New FDA Requirements For Nonprescription Plan B Application
Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Tuesday during a confirmation hearing on acting FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach's nomination to permanently head the agency questioned him regarding the FDA's review of an application requesting approval for nonprescription sales of Barr Laboratories' emergency contraceptive Plan B, the Washington Post reports (Weiss, Washington Post, 8/2). - Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report Highlights Women's Health Policy Issues Related To 2006
The following highlights recent election-related news on women's health issues.
California: State Treasurer and gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides (D) on Friday in San Francisco made his first public statements in opposition to Proposition 85, a statewide ballot measure that would require doctors to notify parents or guardians before performing an abortion. - Former Oglala Sioux Tribal President To Challenge Impeachment Over Proposed Abortion Clinic Donation
Former Oglala Sioux Tribal President Cecelia Fire Thunder on Friday said she plans to challenge her impeachment by the Tribal Council for allegedly soliciting donations on behalf of the tribe for a proposed abortion clinic without the council's approval next week in the tribe's Supreme Court, the Rapid City Journal reports (Steen, Rapid City Journal, 7/28). - FDA Chief Calls For Meeting With Barr Subsidiary, Says Age Restriction In Nonprescription
FDA and Barr Laboratories have agreed to meet to discuss the company's application for nonprescription sales of its emergency contraceptive Plan B, FDA announced in a statement Monday, adding that it hoped remaining concerns regarding the application "can be wrapped up in a matter of weeks," the Philadelphia Inquirer reports (McCullough, Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/1). FDA in May 2004 issued a "not approvable" letter in response to an application originally submitted by pharmaceutical company. - Editorial, Opinion Pieces Respond To Bill That Would Criminalize Assisting Minors To Circumvent
An editorial, opinion piece and letter to the editor respond to a bill (S 403) that would allow federal charges to be filed against any individual who transports minors across state lines for the purpose of evading state abortion parental notification or consent laws. The Senate last week voted 65-34 to approve the bill, which was sponsored by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.). Under the bill, people who violate the measure would be subject to a fine or up to one year in prison. - Mich. House Approves Bills Requiring Abortion Clinics To Screen For Coercion
The Michigan House on Wednesday voted 67-38 to approve a package of bills (HB 5879, HB 5880, HB 5881, HB 5882, HB 5883) that would require abortion clinics to determine if women seeking abortions are undergoing the procedure because they have been intimidated or coerced, the AP/Mlive.com reports. The bills also would make coercing and intimidating women into seeking an abortion illegal and would give coerced women the ability to file a civil lawsuit. - Republicans Criticize Some Senate Democrats Trying To Block Bill That Would Criminalize Assisting
Some Republicans have criticized some Senate Democrats who used a procedural move to try to block a conference committee from reconciling House and Senate bills that would allow federal charges to be filed against any individual who transports minors across state lines for the purpose of evading state abortion parental notification or consent laws, the Washington Times reports (Fagan, Washington Times, 7/28). Under the Senate version (S 403) of the bill, sponsored by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.). - Kaiser Daily Women's Health Report Summarizes Editorials About Bill That Would Criminalize
Several editorials on Thursday were published on a bill (S 403) that would allow federal charges to be filed against any individual who transports minors across state lines for the purpose of evading state abortion parental notification or consent laws. The Senate on Tuesday voted 65-34 to approve the bill, which was sponsored by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.). Under the bill, people who violate the measure would be subject to a fine or up to one year in prison. - Oregon Initiative That Would Require Abortion Parental Notification Qualifies For November Ballot
An Oregon initiative that would require physicians to notify by certified mail a parent or guardian at least 48 hours before performing an abortion on a minor ages 15 to 17 has qualified to be placed on the statewide ballot in November, the AP/OregonLive.com reports (AP/OregonLive.com, 7/25). Under the proposed notification initiative, which is sponsored by Oregon Right to Life, minors would be exempt from the measure if their life or health is at risk. - Amnesty International Considering Proposals To Support Contraception Access, List Abortion
Amnesty International as soon as next year could decide on proposals that would support legal access to contraception and access to abortion in cases of rape or to save the life of the woman, the AP/San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The proposals arose from the group's program to curb violence against women. The group said issues such as forced marriage of young girls and illegal abortions also are being discussed. - Senate Approves Bill That Would Criminalize Assisting Minors To Circumvent State Parental
The Senate on Tuesday voted 65-34 to approve a bill (S 403) that would allow federal charges to be filed against any individual who transports minors across state lines for the purpose of evading state abortion parental notification or consent laws, the Washington Post reports (Babington, Washington Post, 7/26). Under the bill, sponsored by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), people who violate the measure would be subject to a fine or up to one year in prison. - Revised South Dakota Homicide Law Could Allow Abortion Providers To Be Charged With First-Degree
Dave Gerdes, an attorney for the South Dakota State Medical Association, in a recent legal memo said that, under a revised state homicide law, physicians who violate a state law (HB 1215) that bans abortion except to save the life of the pregnant woman could be charged with first-degree murder, the AP/Aberdeen American News reports. - Senate Begins Debate On Federal Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act
The Senate on Friday began debate on legislation (S 403) that would allow federal charges to be filed against any individual who transports minors across state lines for the purpose of evading state abortion parental notification or consent laws, the Associated Press reports (Associated Press, 7/21). The bill, sponsored by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), would authorize fines or up to one year in prison for people who violate the measure. - Kansas City Star Examines Pregnancy Prevention Program Aimed At Drug Users
The Kansas City Star on Wednesday examined Project Prevention -- a program that offers financial incentives to illicit drug users if they agree to take long-term birth control or undergo sterilization surgery. The group's founder, Barbara Harris, started the program in 1998 in California under the name Children Requiring a Caring Kommunity, or CRACK. - Antiabortion Group Protesting For Closure Of Jackson, Miss., Abortion Clinic Denied Restraining
U.S. District Judge William Barbour on Tuesday denied a request by the antiabortion group Operation Rescue/Operation Save America for a temporary restraining order against the Jackson Police Department for alleged First Amendment violations during the group's eight-day protest targeting the Jackson Women's Health Organization, the only abortion clinic in Mississippi, the Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports (Cogswell/Rupp, Jackson Clarion-Ledger, 7/19). - Focus On Health Protection During Pregnancy: DFG Presents The 2006 MAK And BAT Value List
The Senate Commission of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) on the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area has presented the 2006 Maximum Allowable Concentrations (Maximale Arbeitsplatzkonzentrationen - MAK) and Biological Tolerance Values (Biologische Arbeitsstofftoleranzwerte - BAT) list and submitted it to the German Federal Minister of Economics and Labour. - Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report Highlights Issues In Various States
The following highlights recent news of state actions on women's health issues.
Abortion
Nebraska: Sen. Ben Nelson (D) received the sole endorsement of Nebraska Right to Life for his re-election in November, CongressDaily reports. Denise Ashby, director of NRL, said a six-member committee chose to endorse Nelson and not his opponent, Republican businessman Pete Ricketts, due to Nelson's "pro-life voting record" and its policy of rewarding incumbents. - Federal Judge Rules Missouri Must Provide Transport For Pregnant Inmates Wishing To Have Abortions
U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple on Tuesday ruled that the state must provide transportation to clinics for pregnant inmates who wish to have abortions, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports (Mannies, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 7/19). - Sankyo To Launch Osteoporosis Treatment Drug In Europe
Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sankyo Co. Ltd., have agreed with Eli Lilly on the launch of EVISTA (raloxifene), a new drug that helps prevent osteoporosis and can only be taken after menopause. - Nipple Piercing And Breastfeeding - Are They Compatible?
Until recently, the option to breastfeed after birth was not offered to women with nipple piercings. While there may have been assumed implications to breastfeeding when pierced, limited documentation exists. - Early Fetal Gender Test Demands Rapid Ethical Policymaking
This alert highlights the research published this week in a special issue of Prenatal Diagnosis entitled, Fetal Sexing: Global Perspectives on Practices, Ethics and Policy. The special issue arose out of a workshop organized as part of the SAFE network of excellence. - Sioux Falls Argus Leader Examines Role Of South Dakota Physicians In Abortion Ban Debate
Several South Dakota physicians have "lined up on opposite sides" of the state's law (HB 1215) that bans abortion except to save a woman's life and are "lending their personal and medical opinions to a cause in which they believe," the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports. According to Ken Aspaas, president of the South Dakota State Medical Association, the abortion ban debate has divided the state's medical community.
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