Government seeks abortion records from University of Michigan

[Judi Lynn]

Government seeks abortion records from University of Michigan
February 11, 2004, 7:02 PM


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking abortion records from the University of Michigan Medical Center and several other university hospitals as part of a lawsuit over the federal ban on so-called partial-birth abortions.

The government insists it does not want specific information about patients, only general information on late-term abortions that were performed by the seven plaintiffs in the case.

But hospitals have been reluctant to produce the information. The University of Michigan refused several weeks ago based on privacy grounds, spokeswoman Kallie Michels said Wednesday.

Earlier this week, a federal district judge in Chicago blocked the release of the information from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, citing Illinois privacy laws. Another judge is considering a similar request from Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia.
(snip/...)

http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw92845_20040211.htm

[Hekate]

1. Handmaid's Tale

:kick:

[salin]

2. third such request I have read about in the last several days

it appears that Ashcroft is seeking back records (I thought I read going back 3 years) - even though the law was only past a few months ago. Fishing expedition? His next zealous crusade?

[BR_Parkway]

3. and #'s to show to the base

to build support for the election. They have so much showing up against them, they need things for the rabid right!

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. At least now we know why he doesn't want gun ownership records

around for more than a few days. Who best to know the potential for an abusive police state, than Ashcroft?

[patricia92243]

4. WHY are they doing this? It's against the law NOW.

[izzie]

6. Any women that votes for Bush is nuts.

I just can not take the 'good old days' things any more. I do not know where all those Republicans came from that they want to make laws to bring us back wards to those days.This is just one step back for women. Lets see if those states hold out.

[FlaGranny]

7. I'm confused -

the plaintiffs are the doctors who performed possible late term abortions? Are they bringing suit against themselves? Or does it mean, perhaps, they want the records released to clear themselves of late term abortions and want the hospitals (defendants) to release records that will clear them? Why would that be, since it was not illegal at the time? Anyway, it would seem that the doctors SHOULD have their own records. But then, maybe the patient/doctor confidentiality thing means more to them than they think it should mean to the hospitals.

Does anyone else understand this better than I obviously am? Maybe I need to shake my head, or something, to clear it.

[Ruby Romaine]

8. I think the Feds want records(they say) to establish the Docs expertise

Docs sued because sometimes late abortion is needed to save women's life or fetus will die because it's lacking vital organs such as brain-

Wait a min- are we discussing *?:)

But this is really to intimidate women from seeking medical help, even if it will save their life/ and or a fishing expedition to see if they can arrest docs for something illegal!

After all gun records need to be destroyed in 24 hrs!

[FlaGranny]

10. That makes it a little clearer

:-) but the article is still confusing. Maybe it IS about *. ;-) It never gives a clear explanation of the case or why the doctors are the plaintiffs in it or who, if the doctors are the plaintiffs, is the defendant. So, it is a countersuit, the docs suing the Feds to prevent release of records from the hospitals, I guess. It would seem to me that the plaintiffs should include the hospitals, too.

Thanks, Ruby, for making it a little clearer.

[Rose Siding]

9. BUT...Bush and Rush *do* get medical privacy

This is just wacky enough to be ever so 2004.

[BayCityProgressive]

11. They

have really targeted this univesrity since Bush was elected. They attacked them on affirmative action as well.

[tom_paine]

12. You know the Imperials have another set of laws from us

As their hero Leo Strauss said...

"those who are fit to rule are those who realize there is no morality and that there is only one natural right -- the right of the superior to rule over the inferior."

Now they are well along their way to making this Nazi Idea a reality.