action alert
FDA COMMENT PERIOD: Between now and August 25, the public is invited to share written comments on over-the-counter drug products, including the birth control pill and the morning-after abortion pill. Comments may be submitted to “>Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852, or online. American Life League’s media statement and official testimony are also available.
abortion
TRAINING: The National Abortion Federation publishes “Principles of Abortion Care,” a curriculum for physician assistants and advanced practice nurses. A “sample consent form for medical abortion” contains the following: “I have been advised not to have a medical abortion if I am: breast feeding and unwilling to suspend breast feeding for three days after injection, taking folic acid supplement or folic acid in a multi vitamin, intolerant or allergic to methotrexate or misoprostol, unable to keep follow up appointments, unwilling to have a surgical abortion, without a telephone, without transportation, living more than two hours away from emergency care.”
(Reading: “Principles of Abortion Care,” page 33, National Abortion Federation)
capitol hill
FACTS AND UPDATES: For comprehensive information on Capitol Hill including voting record and principled analyses, contact “>Life Advocacy Alliance and request placement on the Life Advocacy Weekly Briefing fax or e-mail list. The service is provided by Life Advocacy Alliance, 2604 W. Sibley, Park Ridge, IL 60068. Call toll free 888-344-LIFE.
futility
AIDS: Researchers studied 57 patients with advanced AIDS and found that the overwhelming majority did not consider it mandatory that physicians offer mechanical ventilation “if the physician judged this intervention to be futile.” Here is the question presented to the 57 patients: “Imagine that you have end-stage AIDS, and your doctor thinks you have less than 3 months left. Suppose you have been admitted to the hospital with severe pneumonia and you’re having difficulty breathing. Your doctor feels that if you went on life support–such as a mechanical ventilator, which breathes for you–you’d be very unlikely to get off the life support machine alive. Is it ok for your doctor to keep you comfortable and let you die without offering the life support machine?”
COMMENT: Patients do die even while a ventilator is continued. The machine can move air into and out of the chest, but it cannot keep a person alive. There are circumstances in which a ventilator could be deemed burdensome, but the above does not fit the moral guidelines since each individual case requires individual assessment.
(Reading: “The Attitudes of Patients with Advanced AIDS Toward Use of the Medical Futility Rationale in Decisions to Forego Mechanical Ventilation,” Archives of Internal Medicine, 6/12/00; for the pro-life position see Life, Life Support and Death)
gonorrhea
ON THE RISE: A 50-state Centers for Disease Control survey found a 9-percent increase in the rate of gonorrhea. “The sexually transmitted disease can cause pelvic inflammation and infertility in women, and can also foster the transmission of the AIDS virus.”
(Reading: “Study Finds Gonorrhea Rates on Rise,” Associated Press, 6/23/00; see survey results on the CDC site)
imposed death
PBS & END-OF-LIFE CARE: A four-part series hosted by Bill and Judith Moyers will be televised September 10-13, 2000. The theme, “On Our Own Terms,” discusses “a topic many people would prefer to avoid.” See the On Our Own Terms web site for a leadership guide for group and classroom discussions, a newsletter, etc. (Reading: “Websites in Brief,” The Lancet, 6/24/00, p. 2261)
personhood
NEW YORK TIMES RIGHT? June 27, front page: “The human genome is a pearl, a model of high performance and reliability. Millions of times a year, egg genome meets sperm genome, and the result is a human baby, its parts all in place, its brain a universe of love and meaning.”
(Reading: “Reading the Book of Life: The Context – A Pearl and a Hodgepodge: Human DNA,” New York Times, p. A1, 6/27/00; online archive material only available by fee)
politics
ACCOUNTABILITY: How do pro-lifers hold politicians accountable for their position on abortion? Does the particular pro-life organization or leader publicly acknowledge that everyone who justifies abortion should be held equally accountable, whether the politician is justifying certain abortions (rape, incest, life of the mother) or all abortions? Are endorsements (or lack thereof) based on such a consistent position? How can a pro-lifer endorse someone who supports abortion for babies conceived through rape or incest, throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy?
COMMENT: Colleen Parro, Republican National Coalition for Life, reminds each of us: “Remember: as pro-life Americans, we denigrate the cause of life when we publicly support a candidate at any level of public life who justifies abortion for any reason. It’s called integrity.”
(Reading: Republican National Coalition for Life)
CLARIFICATION: An item in last week’s Communique (7/7/00) reported on the prospects of Vice President Gore choosing Senator Evan Bayh as his running mate. Due to an editing error, the item said that some pro-abortion backers favor Bayh for vice president. In fact, major pro-abortion groups consider Bayh unqualified, based on his vote to restrict partial-birth abortion.
reproductive health
GLAMOUR MAGAZINE: Liz Brody writes that a “new line of thinking percolating among heavy hitters in the reproductive health community” is “that monthly periods are not natural, and having them mnay even raise your risk for diseases like endometriosis, anemia and possibly certain kinds of cancer.” Brody also argues that the Pill is the cure-all.
(Reading: “Could Your Period Give You Cancer?” Glamour, 7/00, comments can be e-mailed to ” <=”” a=””>Glamour Magazine, or faxed to 212-286-6922 or mailed to Glamour, 4 Times Square, New York, NY 10036)
suicide
OREGON: The state set a record in 1998 for suicides, according to an Oregon Department of Human Services report. The reported 1998 suicide total of 569 is up from 525 in 1994, the previous high. The report does NOT include physician-assisted suicides, which are legal in Oregon.
COMMENT: Nancy Valko, RN: “We have long pointed out that assisted suicide as an acceptable option would most probably lead to an increase of suicides among other vulnerable groups like teens.”
(Reading: “Oregon Suicides Hit Record High,” The Oregonian, 7/2/00; for the ethical physician’s viewpoint, see Physicians for Compassionate Care Educational Foundation)
supreme court
STENBERG v. CARHART: Egregious as the June 28th ruling was for those who battle in defense of life, the fact is that the law considered by the Supreme Court, and subsequently struck down, did not ban any type of child killing and contained the following exception language: “No partial-birth abortion shall be performed in this state, unless such procedure is necessary to save the life of the mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.”
COMMENT: Vague?
(Reading: For a review of the decision, Stenberg v. Carhart, 99-380, see Legal Information Institute)
united nations
UNFPA: Henry Foster, M.D., has been appointed as chairman of the newly formed “U.S. Committee for UNFPA.” Foster, the darling of NARAL and NOW, came under intense scrutiny when the Clinton Administration nominated him for surgeon general in 1995. The nomination was withdrawn.
(Reading: “Controversial Abortionist Chairs UNFPA Committee in the United States,” Friday Fax, C-FAM, 6/30/00)
vaccines
CONFLICT OF INTEREST? Phyllis Schlafly reports that the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee makes decisions regarding vaccines–decisions that are at times suspect. For the analysis, see Mrs.Schlafly’s column. Further information is located on the Eagle Forum site.
web news
PRAYER: Renewal Enterprises sponsors a project of the disabled involving scripture embroidered pillowcases. For information, see Renewal Enterprises.
you
HELP WANTED: Human Life Alliance of Minnesota is seeking a development director. For details and an e-mail outline of requirements, contact “>Rich Scanlon at Human Life Alliance. Phone: 651-484-1040.
reflection for prayer
When once I shall be united to you with my whole being, I shall at least be free of sorrow and toil. Then my life will be alive, filled entirely with you. When you fill someone, you relieve him of his burden, but because I am not yet filled with you, I am a burden to myself. My joy when I should be weeping struggles with my sorrows when I should be rejoicing. I know not where victory lies. Woe is me! Lord, have mercy on me. My evil sorrows and good joys are at war with one another. I know not where victory lies. Woe is me! Lord, have mercy! Woe is me! I make no effort to conceal my wounds. You are my physician, I your patient. You are merciful; I stand in need of mercy.
-From the Confessions of St. Augustine, bishop
FDA COMMENT PERIOD: Between now and August 25, the public is invited to share written comments on over-the-counter drug products, including the birth control pill and the morning-after abortion pill. Comments may be submitted to “>Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852, or online. American Life League’s media statement and official testimony are also available.
abortion
TRAINING: The National Abortion Federation publishes “Principles of Abortion Care,” a curriculum for physician assistants and advanced practice nurses. A “sample consent form for medical abortion” contains the following: “I have been advised not to have a medical abortion if I am: breast feeding and unwilling to suspend breast feeding for three days after injection, taking folic acid supplement or folic acid in a multi vitamin, intolerant or allergic to methotrexate or misoprostol, unable to keep follow up appointments, unwilling to have a surgical abortion, without a telephone, without transportation, living more than two hours away from emergency care.”
(Reading: “Principles of Abortion Care,” page 33, National Abortion Federation)
capitol hill
FACTS AND UPDATES: For comprehensive information on Capitol Hill including voting record and principled analyses, contact “>Life Advocacy Alliance and request placement on the Life Advocacy Weekly Briefing fax or e-mail list. The service is provided by Life Advocacy Alliance, 2604 W. Sibley, Park Ridge, IL 60068. Call toll free 888-344-LIFE.
futility
AIDS: Researchers studied 57 patients with advanced AIDS and found that the overwhelming majority did not consider it mandatory that physicians offer mechanical ventilation “if the physician judged this intervention to be futile.” Here is the question presented to the 57 patients: “Imagine that you have end-stage AIDS, and your doctor thinks you have less than 3 months left. Suppose you have been admitted to the hospital with severe pneumonia and you’re having difficulty breathing. Your doctor feels that if you went on life support–such as a mechanical ventilator, which breathes for you–you’d be very unlikely to get off the life support machine alive. Is it ok for your doctor to keep you comfortable and let you die without offering the life support machine?”
COMMENT: Patients do die even while a ventilator is continued. The machine can move air into and out of the chest, but it cannot keep a person alive. There are circumstances in which a ventilator could be deemed burdensome, but the above does not fit the moral guidelines since each individual case requires individual assessment.
(Reading: “The Attitudes of Patients with Advanced AIDS Toward Use of the Medical Futility Rationale in Decisions to Forego Mechanical Ventilation,” Archives of Internal Medicine, 6/12/00; for the pro-life position see Life, Life Support and Death)
gonorrhea
ON THE RISE: A 50-state Centers for Disease Control survey found a 9-percent increase in the rate of gonorrhea. “The sexually transmitted disease can cause pelvic inflammation and infertility in women, and can also foster the transmission of the AIDS virus.”
(Reading: “Study Finds Gonorrhea Rates on Rise,” Associated Press, 6/23/00; see survey results on the CDC site)
imposed death
PBS & END-OF-LIFE CARE: A four-part series hosted by Bill and Judith Moyers will be televised September 10-13, 2000. The theme, “On Our Own Terms,” discusses “a topic many people would prefer to avoid.” See the On Our Own Terms web site for a leadership guide for group and classroom discussions, a newsletter, etc. (Reading: “Websites in Brief,” The Lancet, 6/24/00, p. 2261)
personhood
NEW YORK TIMES RIGHT? June 27, front page: “The human genome is a pearl, a model of high performance and reliability. Millions of times a year, egg genome meets sperm genome, and the result is a human baby, its parts all in place, its brain a universe of love and meaning.”
(Reading: “Reading the Book of Life: The Context – A Pearl and a Hodgepodge: Human DNA,” New York Times, p. A1, 6/27/00; online archive material only available by fee)
politics
ACCOUNTABILITY: How do pro-lifers hold politicians accountable for their position on abortion? Does the particular pro-life organization or leader publicly acknowledge that everyone who justifies abortion should be held equally accountable, whether the politician is justifying certain abortions (rape, incest, life of the mother) or all abortions? Are endorsements (or lack thereof) based on such a consistent position? How can a pro-lifer endorse someone who supports abortion for babies conceived through rape or incest, throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy?
COMMENT: Colleen Parro, Republican National Coalition for Life, reminds each of us: “Remember: as pro-life Americans, we denigrate the cause of life when we publicly support a candidate at any level of public life who justifies abortion for any reason. It’s called integrity.”
(Reading: Republican National Coalition for Life)
CLARIFICATION: An item in last week’s Communique (7/7/00) reported on the prospects of Vice President Gore choosing Senator Evan Bayh as his running mate. Due to an editing error, the item said that some pro-abortion backers favor Bayh for vice president. In fact, major pro-abortion groups consider Bayh unqualified, based on his vote to restrict partial-birth abortion.
reproductive health
GLAMOUR MAGAZINE: Liz Brody writes that a “new line of thinking percolating among heavy hitters in the reproductive health community” is “that monthly periods are not natural, and having them mnay even raise your risk for diseases like endometriosis, anemia and possibly certain kinds of cancer.” Brody also argues that the Pill is the cure-all.
(Reading: “Could Your Period Give You Cancer?” Glamour, 7/00, comments can be e-mailed to ” <=”” a=””>Glamour Magazine, or faxed to 212-286-6922 or mailed to Glamour, 4 Times Square, New York, NY 10036)
suicide
OREGON: The state set a record in 1998 for suicides, according to an Oregon Department of Human Services report. The reported 1998 suicide total of 569 is up from 525 in 1994, the previous high. The report does NOT include physician-assisted suicides, which are legal in Oregon.
COMMENT: Nancy Valko, RN: “We have long pointed out that assisted suicide as an acceptable option would most probably lead to an increase of suicides among other vulnerable groups like teens.”
(Reading: “Oregon Suicides Hit Record High,” The Oregonian, 7/2/00; for the ethical physician’s viewpoint, see Physicians for Compassionate Care Educational Foundation)
supreme court
STENBERG v. CARHART: Egregious as the June 28th ruling was for those who battle in defense of life, the fact is that the law considered by the Supreme Court, and subsequently struck down, did not ban any type of child killing and contained the following exception language: “No partial-birth abortion shall be performed in this state, unless such procedure is necessary to save the life of the mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.”
COMMENT: Vague?
(Reading: For a review of the decision, Stenberg v. Carhart, 99-380, see Legal Information Institute)
united nations
UNFPA: Henry Foster, M.D., has been appointed as chairman of the newly formed “U.S. Committee for UNFPA.” Foster, the darling of NARAL and NOW, came under intense scrutiny when the Clinton Administration nominated him for surgeon general in 1995. The nomination was withdrawn.
(Reading: “Controversial Abortionist Chairs UNFPA Committee in the United States,” Friday Fax, C-FAM, 6/30/00)
vaccines
CONFLICT OF INTEREST? Phyllis Schlafly reports that the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee makes decisions regarding vaccines–decisions that are at times suspect. For the analysis, see Mrs.Schlafly’s column. Further information is located on the Eagle Forum site.
web news
PRAYER: Renewal Enterprises sponsors a project of the disabled involving scripture embroidered pillowcases. For information, see Renewal Enterprises.
you
HELP WANTED: Human Life Alliance of Minnesota is seeking a development director. For details and an e-mail outline of requirements, contact “>Rich Scanlon at Human Life Alliance. Phone: 651-484-1040.
reflection for prayer
When once I shall be united to you with my whole being, I shall at least be free of sorrow and toil. Then my life will be alive, filled entirely with you. When you fill someone, you relieve him of his burden, but because I am not yet filled with you, I am a burden to myself. My joy when I should be weeping struggles with my sorrows when I should be rejoicing. I know not where victory lies. Woe is me! Lord, have mercy on me. My evil sorrows and good joys are at war with one another. I know not where victory lies. Woe is me! Lord, have mercy! Woe is me! I make no effort to conceal my wounds. You are my physician, I your patient. You are merciful; I stand in need of mercy.
-From the Confessions of St. Augustine, bishop