in this issue:
abortion: COMPLICATIONS
activism: SCHEIDLER UNDAUNTED
birth control pill: RISKS; POSSIBLE SELF-INJECTION
congress: FAILURE TO SAVE LIVES, TITLE X
depo-provera: RISKS
fetal development: PRENATAL PROGRAMMING
imposed death: BRITAIN
morning-after abortion pills: CALIFORNIA
norplant: CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT
politics: BIPARTISANSHIP
viagra: TROUBLED WATERS
web news: JOSEPH G. PASTOREK II, M.D.
vaccines: LEGAL HELP FOR PARENTS
zinger: UNHATCHED DINOSAURS DISCOVERED
reflection for prayer: ST. TERESA OF AVILA
abortion
COMPLICATIONS: A recent study on hemorrhage after abortion provides statistics as follows: “from 0.1 to 21 per thousand cases” of hemorrhage occur after spontaneous or induced abortion. Some of the causes of hemorrhage include “retained pregnancy tissue, uterine atony, coagulopathy, abnormal placentation and operative trauma.” Hysterectomy after abortion, most commonly performed because of hemorrhage, occurs after induced abortion at a rate of “1.4 per 10,000.”
(Reading: “Pelvic embolization for treatment of hemorrhage related to spontaneous and induced abortion,” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 9/01, pp. 530-536, abstract)
activism
SCHEIDLER UNDAUNTED: The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a pro-abortion lower court ruling against Joe Scheidler and his organization, the Pro-Life Action League, but he remains dedicated to defending the cause all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
(Reading: “Pro-life activists undaunted by court ruling,” Pro-Life Action League news release)
birth control pill
RISKS: Recent studies have shown that the birth control pill is directly associated with precursors to heart disease including an increase in the albumen level in urine.
(Reading: “Hormone therapy linked to heart disease precursor,” Reuters Health, 9/20/01)
congress
FAILURE TO SAVE LIVES: The U.S. House of Representatives, in three separate but related acts, has failed to defend our youngest Americans from abortion terrorism.
- An amendment that would have prevented Title X funding from going to groups that provide chemical or surgical abortion has failed.
- An amendment that would have prohibited federal funds from going to school-based clinics that distribute abortifacient morning- after abortion pill regimens has failed.
- Language that provides a specific exception to protect the August 9 Bush decision on embryonic stem cell research has neutered the effectiveness of the Dickey/Wicker amendment that prohibits federal funding of experiments requiring the killing of embryonic humans.
(Reading: “What’s happening to pro-life legislation in Congress?” Republican Nnational Coalition for Life Faxnotes, 10/12/01)
TITLE X: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is urging doctors to lobby the U. S. Senate for an increase in the Title X funding limit. ACOG states “each public dollar spent to provide family planning services saves an average of $3 in Medicaid costs for pregnancy-related newborn care alone.” ACOG fails to point out the abortion potential of the very chemicals Title X provides through its program services, not to mention direct referrals for surgical abortion.
(Reading: ACOG action alert, search the site for Title X)
depo provera
RISKS: New research has confirmed that those women who choose the injectible birth control chemical (also an abortive agent) Depo-Provera may suffer significant bone loss. Experts say the younger you are when you begin using it, the more likely you are to have problems later on.
(Reading: “Birth control shot may weaken bones,” Health Scout News, 10/5/01)
POSSIBLE SELF-INJECTION: Risks connected with Depo-Provera apparently won’t deter further research to make the injectible birth control even more available. A University of Florida study is experimenting with an under-the-skin version that will give women “the convenience of giving themselves the injections at home.”
(Reading: “U. Florida study examines possibility of at-home injections of Depo-Provera,” Independent Florida Alligator, 10/15/01)
fetal development
PRENATAL PROGRAMMING: Peter Nathanielsz, M.D., a researcher at Cornell University, works on the theory that “if conditions during gestation are not optimal, a child’s lifetime physical and mental health can be programmed to include susceptibility to heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, poor emotional resilience and resistance to infection.”
(Reading: “Womb Design,” Chicago Tribune Health Advisor, undated: article no longer on web site; for further background on Dr. Peter Nathanielsz, see “How babies are ushered into life determines how healthily they will live as adults, book by Cornell pregnancy researcher says,” 1/99)
imposed death
BRITAIN: The first ever right-to-die case filed under the Human Rights Act involves Diane Pretty, a 42-year-old woman who suffers from Motion Neuron Disease and claims that she wants to die at a time of her choosing because her quality of life has been impaired by the disease. Dr. Frank Riddick of New Orleans has noted that “healing” can continue even when a patient’s condition is incurable. Such healing can be in the form of “providing support, providing comfort, alleviating pain and letting the patient die with dignity.” He “respectfully disagrees” with the Hemlock Society, which supports Pretty in her case.
(Reading: “British woman’s right to die case opens,” Catholic World News, 10/10/01; “First ever right-to-die case under Human Rights Act,” Liberty news release, 8/31/01; “British couple seek ruling allowing assisted suicide,” American Medical News, 10/1/01)
morning-after abortion pills
CALIFORNIA: The Public Health Institute celebrates Gov. Gray Davis’ signing of SB 1169, providing pharmacists with legal permission to provide morning after abortion pills. PHI reports that “emergency contraception has been referred to as a nine-one-one of contraception.” They state that ACOG estimates that “there are about twenty-seven thousands condoms a day that either break or slip.”
(Reading: “Public health institute announces success with emergency contraception legislation,” Pharmacy Access Partnership news release, 10/14/01)
norplant
CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT: Thousands of Louisiana women have filed a class action lawsuit against American Home Products, manufacturer of Norplant, charging that the birth control implant harmed them. A civil district judge has agreed that the suit can proceed.
(Reading: “Judge: women can sue Norplant manufacturer,” WDSU-TV, 10/3/01)
politics
BIPARTISANSHIP: The failure of the U. S. House of Representatives to provide minimal protections to our youngest Americans by denying federal dollars to schools that dispense morning-after abortion regimens (Hart Amendment) is a direct result of political efforts to exhibit “unity” in the aftermath of the September 11 tragedy. The problem is exacerbated by lobby groups as outlined in a Post-Gazette article stating that while the pro-abortion National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League and the pro-abortion National Education Association provided comments opposing the measure, the pro-life National Right to Life Committee would not provide an interview.
(Reading: “Hart relents on school ‘morning-after’ pill issue,” Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 10/12/01)
viagra
TROUBLED WATERS: Reports state that some patients require increased doses of the medication after the first two years, and “the German government recently announced that it would be reviewing prescription guidelines after several hundred European deaths were connected to the drug.”
(Reading: “The honeymoon may be over for Viagra,” American Medical News, 10/1/01)
web news
JOSEPH G. PASTOREK II, M.D.: This outstanding pro-life Catholic physician is available to respond to your questions via his web site. Dr. Pastorek specializes in obstetrics, gynecology and teaching natural methods for spacing children.
vaccines
LEGAL HELP FOR PARENTS: Should you wish to learn more about parental rights and how families can be defended in court when they choose NOT to have their children vaccinated with tainted vaccines, contact Mathew Staver at Liberty Counsel.
zinger
UNHATCHED DINOSAURS DISCOVERED: “Floods killed unborn creatures in nest area found in Argentina” reads headline in the Fredericksburg, Virginia, Free Lance Star, 9/28/01. The unhatched creatures are described as “babies.”
reflection for prayer
ST. TERESA OF AVILA: If Christ Jesus dwells in a man as his friend and noble leader, that man can endure all things, for Christ helps and strengthens us and never abandons us.