Comments on: What’s at Risk in Kansas http://thecurvature.com/2008/04/08/whats-at-risk-in-kansas/ Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:40:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: sara http://thecurvature.com/2008/04/08/whats-at-risk-in-kansas/#comment-4270 sara Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:03:22 +0000 http://thecurvature.com/?p=667#comment-4270 <i>Don’t blame the lawyers for our nursing shortage. Point the finger at the anti-choicers — they are the only ones who caused this severe shortage of nurses nationwide with their actions.</i> I dont follow. They may be responsible for a shortage of nurses willing to work at abortion clinics, but I dont agree they are responsible for the nursing shortage as a whole. Don’t blame the lawyers for our nursing shortage. Point the finger at the anti-choicers — they are the only ones who caused this severe shortage of nurses nationwide with their actions.

I dont follow. They may be responsible for a shortage of nurses willing to work at abortion clinics, but I dont agree they are responsible for the nursing shortage as a whole.

]]> By: jovan byars http://thecurvature.com/2008/04/08/whats-at-risk-in-kansas/#comment-4225 jovan byars Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:03:35 +0000 http://thecurvature.com/?p=667#comment-4225 Abortion records are protected under the 1976 Medical Privacy Act, and it makes me sick that the anti-choice slimeballs are trying to persecute doctors and women -- in clear violation of the Medical Privacy Act. I hope someone will sue the hell out of the Kansasans for Life for invasion of privacy. Don't blame the lawyers for our nursing shortage. Point the finger at the anti-choicers -- they are the only ones who caused this severe shortage of nurses nationwide with their actions. Abortion records are protected under the 1976 Medical Privacy Act, and it makes me sick that the anti-choice slimeballs are trying to persecute doctors and women — in clear violation of the Medical Privacy Act. I hope someone will sue the hell out of the Kansasans for Life for invasion of privacy.

Don’t blame the lawyers for our nursing shortage. Point the finger at the anti-choicers — they are the only ones who caused this severe shortage of nurses nationwide with their actions.

]]> By: Melissa http://thecurvature.com/2008/04/08/whats-at-risk-in-kansas/#comment-4224 Melissa Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:28:14 +0000 http://thecurvature.com/?p=667#comment-4224 It just absolutley makes me ill that this is even a fucking debate! The fact that these women may have to sit by while their medical records are pilfered by strangers is absurd. And that this man, this doctor that provides a service that is so gruesome and has to be the most mentally, emotionally, psychically draining work ever, is being put through this ordeal - It just makes me want to scream!! And it makes me sad. You're right, Cara - this could (Goddess Forbid) be any one of us and even more to the point it could be any one of those facist bastards that are trying to get those medical records. I wonder if they have ever tried to put themselves in these women's positions. It just absolutley makes me ill that this is even a fucking debate! The fact that these women may have to sit by while their medical records are pilfered by strangers is absurd. And that this man, this doctor that provides a service that is so gruesome and has to be the most mentally, emotionally, psychically draining work ever, is being put through this ordeal – It just makes me want to scream!! And it makes me sad.
You’re right, Cara – this could (Goddess Forbid) be any one of us and even more to the point it could be any one of those facist bastards that are trying to get those medical records. I wonder if they have ever tried to put themselves in these women’s positions.

]]> By: Jennifer http://thecurvature.com/2008/04/08/whats-at-risk-in-kansas/#comment-4222 Jennifer Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:21:33 +0000 http://thecurvature.com/?p=667#comment-4222 complete bullshit. Medical records should always, always, always be kept private. The only exception being if there is a criminal investigation and there will be evidence. This is not the case here. As far as the "poster child" goes, she was going to an abortion clinic. A place that performs abortions. Late term abortions at that. I'm betting this was not her first pregnancy related doctor visit. Regardless of what anyone at the clinic may have told her, she should have had some idea of the gestational age. She's trying to redirect her own guilt. She needs help and therapy, not a group of crazy activists. complete bullshit. Medical records should always, always, always be kept private. The only exception being if there is a criminal investigation and there will be evidence. This is not the case here. As far as the “poster child” goes, she was going to an abortion clinic. A place that performs abortions. Late term abortions at that. I’m betting this was not her first pregnancy related doctor visit. Regardless of what anyone at the clinic may have told her, she should have had some idea of the gestational age. She’s trying to redirect her own guilt. She needs help and therapy, not a group of crazy activists.

]]> By: Cara http://thecurvature.com/2008/04/08/whats-at-risk-in-kansas/#comment-4220 Cara Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:40:26 +0000 http://thecurvature.com/?p=667#comment-4220 Post-viability fetuses can only be aborted for risk to maternal health and (I think) fetal deformities that are incompatible with life. What they're checking to make sure is that he's not performing elective abortions on post-viability fetuses. Anna, I can only assume that the woman in question is accusing Tiller of performing an elective post-viability abortion on her by lying about the gestational age. Which, if it were true (and I don't think it is), I can't tell you why she would come forward with it. My guess? That she had a late-term elective abortion, "found god" and regrets it and has joined the anti-choice crusade to testify about how much abortion harmed her and how she was lied to, etc. Like, you know, Leslee Unruh, Norma McCorvey ("Roe"), etc. The 19 charges that he's being prosecuted by the state for, totally unrelated to this grand jury circus, are for circumventing the post-viability abortion laws by not properly seeking the second opinion of another doctor. Firstly, with the amount of scrutiny he's under he'd have to be a total moron to just ignore the laws that require a second opinion. Secondly, the charges are also extremely convoluted -- (in I think all but at least some of the cases) the state is claiming that he sought the opinion of a second doctor, but that she wasn't sufficiently non-related to him because they work in the same practice. Tiller is arguing that the law is very vague and states that the two doctors can simply not have a financial relationship, and since no money changes hands between them, there is no violation. The state is claiming the fact that she's in the same practice to be monetarily related enough. In other words, bullshit. Post-viability fetuses can only be aborted for risk to maternal health and (I think) fetal deformities that are incompatible with life. What they’re checking to make sure is that he’s not performing elective abortions on post-viability fetuses. Anna, I can only assume that the woman in question is accusing Tiller of performing an elective post-viability abortion on her by lying about the gestational age.

Which, if it were true (and I don’t think it is), I can’t tell you why she would come forward with it. My guess? That she had a late-term elective abortion, “found god” and regrets it and has joined the anti-choice crusade to testify about how much abortion harmed her and how she was lied to, etc. Like, you know, Leslee Unruh, Norma McCorvey (“Roe”), etc.

The 19 charges that he’s being prosecuted by the state for, totally unrelated to this grand jury circus, are for circumventing the post-viability abortion laws by not properly seeking the second opinion of another doctor. Firstly, with the amount of scrutiny he’s under he’d have to be a total moron to just ignore the laws that require a second opinion. Secondly, the charges are also extremely convoluted — (in I think all but at least some of the cases) the state is claiming that he sought the opinion of a second doctor, but that she wasn’t sufficiently non-related to him because they work in the same practice. Tiller is arguing that the law is very vague and states that the two doctors can simply not have a financial relationship, and since no money changes hands between them, there is no violation. The state is claiming the fact that she’s in the same practice to be monetarily related enough.

In other words, bullshit.

]]> By: Feminist Avatar http://thecurvature.com/2008/04/08/whats-at-risk-in-kansas/#comment-4219 Feminist Avatar Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:47:04 +0000 http://thecurvature.com/?p=667#comment-4219 Maybe I am being a bit dim, but what crime are they checking he is not committing? Are late-term abortions restricted in Kansas- and thus they want to make sure they all have a medical justification? It seems a bit crazy to check whether he is committing a crime that doesn't exist? Maybe I am being a bit dim, but what crime are they checking he is not committing? Are late-term abortions restricted in Kansas- and thus they want to make sure they all have a medical justification? It seems a bit crazy to check whether he is committing a crime that doesn’t exist?

]]> By: akeeyu http://thecurvature.com/2008/04/08/whats-at-risk-in-kansas/#comment-4218 akeeyu Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:11:28 +0000 http://thecurvature.com/?p=667#comment-4218 This from the woman who said they lied about the gestational age of her fetus: "“At no time before the baby was injected with the drug that killed him did any doctor or other medical staff in Dr. Tiller’s clinic ask me about my health or why I was having an abortion,” she said in a sworn statement." First of all, there is no fucking way that a doctor about to perform a surgical procedure didn't ask about her health. I mean...come on. Second, why does it matter whether or not he asked why she had an abortion? She said she wanted an abortion. Was she unclear on what an abortion was? Did she think she was in for a pedicure? Did she not understand that having an abortion meant that the fetus would die? Once again, come on. Also regarding this 'lied about the gestational age' thing? Hmm. Gestational age is an absolute, but the appearance of gestational age is not. I had a pretty shitty pregnancy, during which both of the fetuses were affected by IUGR (Intrauterine growth restriction). At the first appointment, the girls' pediatrician told me that one of them had the size and overall appearance of a 30 week fetus, although they had been born at 36 weeks. My point? It is not always possible to absolutely pinpoint gestational age by looking at a fetus. It's not like you can cut them open and count the rings. This from the woman who said they lied about the gestational age of her fetus: ““At no time before the baby was injected with the drug that killed him did any doctor or other medical staff in Dr. Tiller’s clinic ask me about my health or why I was having an abortion,” she said in a sworn statement.”

First of all, there is no fucking way that a doctor about to perform a surgical procedure didn’t ask about her health. I mean…come on.

Second, why does it matter whether or not he asked why she had an abortion? She said she wanted an abortion. Was she unclear on what an abortion was? Did she think she was in for a pedicure? Did she not understand that having an abortion meant that the fetus would die? Once again, come on.

Also regarding this ‘lied about the gestational age’ thing? Hmm. Gestational age is an absolute, but the appearance of gestational age is not. I had a pretty shitty pregnancy, during which both of the fetuses were affected by IUGR (Intrauterine growth restriction). At the first appointment, the girls’ pediatrician told me that one of them had the size and overall appearance of a 30 week fetus, although they had been born at 36 weeks.

My point? It is not always possible to absolutely pinpoint gestational age by looking at a fetus. It’s not like you can cut them open and count the rings.

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