Hahnemann fights U.S. over late-abortion files

[Mandate My Ass]

Hahnemann fights U.S. over late-abortion files

It is among six hospitals subpoenaed for the records of some patients.

By Stacey Burling
Inquirer Staff Writer

Hahnemann University Hospital is among a group of hospitals fighting efforts by the Justice Department to obtain the medical records of patients who underwent a type of late-term abortion.

Hahnemann contends divulging the records would violate the medical privacy of its patients. And the hospital, in a court filing, accused the Bush administration of "vindictive and mean-spirited" tactics in seeking the records.

<snip>

'A blatant invasion'

"No valid justification exists to allow such a blatant invasion of privacy into the reproductive rights of the women whose medical records would be disclosed," Hahnemann's filing says. "Rather, seeking production of the medical records at issue appears to be vindictive and mean-spirited in that it seeks to potentially harm the reputations of innocent individuals with no interest or stake in the litigation simply because their physician chose to challenge the constitutionality of the statute."

</snip>

[enough]

1. Arlen Specter needs to feel the heat on this

Mainstream republicans in Pennsylvania are not anti-abortion zealots. And Arlen is going to need a lot of Democrats if he wants to win in November.

Specter is going to be in a real bind here, with a rabid rightwing challenger in the primary, but needing to be seen a a moderate for the general election in November.

He has been supportive of abortion rights so far. He has to be made to take a position on this latest Ashcroft insanity.

Pennsylvanians, contact Specter!

Main Office:
711 Hart Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
email: [e-mail]

[Mandate My Ass]

2. Will do

You're right, if we get Toomey and Santorum, PA won't be a fit place to live. I think Arlen has to be aware that if he lets this slide, the pro-choicers might as well stay home on election day.