New pre-abortion requirements passed in Nebraska: Mental screening, for one

By GottaLaff

Do you hear that sound? It's the chip-chip-chipping away at Roe v. Wade. Legal abortions are less accessible, physicians who perform them are being assassinated, and restrictions on women who might need one are getting tighter.

This must be the liberty conservatives rave about so often. That whole "coming between you and your doctor" thing? Yeah, it is not the progressives who condone that:

LINCOLN, Neb.—Nebraska lawmakers on Monday gave final approval to a first-of-its-kind measure requiring women to be screened for possible mental and physical problems before having abortions. [...]

It's also likely be challenged in court. National abortion-rights supporters have called it a drastic shift in abortion policy that would block abortions by scaring doctors who might perform them.

Doctors would be required to screen women to find out if they were pressured into having abortions. Then they could determine whether someone is likely to end up with mental or physical problems after the procedure.

That's awfully subjective, and it occurs to me that a woman would feel pressured by the question about feeling pressured. Could this be the birth (no pun) of "pressure panels"?

The patients would have to be told whether they are at risk, but would still be allowed to have an abortion.

If I were told I were at risk, that would stress me out enough to be diagnosed as being stressed out, but I wouldn't necessarily be able to identify the source of my stress. Especially if I were a very young woman, as in teenager.

And after having worked with teens for years, I can safely say that they feel pressured if you so much look at them wrong.

Or if you tell them you're about to look at them wrong.

Or if you ask them if they feel pressured.

If a screening was not done, a woman could file a civil suit.

Doctors would not face criminal charges, nor would they lose their medical licenses.

So what's the problem?

"It's too vague," said Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha, one of just nine senators who voted against the measure on Monday. "I don't know if a physician faced with civil action can know all the risk factors," cited in journals, he added.

Chip, chip, chip....

GOP Lays Booby Trap in Health Care Debate

By GottaLaff

Another day, another Conservative steaming pile of misinformation. This time it's all about how the Big Bad Government is going to ration your health care... again. See, now they're going to force women to ignore preventive breast health care and their own common sense.

Know what this really is? Another attempt to divert attention from the battle over politicizing the battle. Shiny keys! See 'em?

Since anti-abortion lawmakers are eager to wipe out a choice that truly matters for women, mammogram-gate conveniently diverts women's attention to health care option that isn't actually under threat. And all the chest-thumping polemics on Capitol Hill end up turning public attention away from what's really making us ill: the politicization of our health.

Now let's take a look at that thing we like to call "truth":

On mammograms, here's what the Task Force actually said:

The USPSTF recommends against routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years. The decision to start regular, biennial screening mammography before the age of 50 years should be an individual one and take into account patient context, including the patient's values regarding specific benefits and harms.

In other words, recommendations and... choice:

Currently, there's no evidence that the government or the insurance industry will try to curtail coverage for mammograms simply based on the Task Force's recommendations. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius noted as much earlier this week, stating that the Task Force's recommendations don't determine government policy.

But we know how Conservatives hate choice, so all we hear about is how "Obamacare" is gonna get us!

Once again, they plant a poisonous seed and it takes hold. The press needs to wake up and start reporting facts, not talking points.

H/t: Greg Skilling

Video- First Lady Michelle Obama on Health Care, Aging Women

'Conscience' rule on abortions to be overturned

I am tickled pink, Wonderful, wonderful news. If you can't do your job, get another job.

Reporting from Washington -- Taking another step into the abortion debate, the Obama administration today will move to rescind a controversial rule that allows healthcare workers to deny abortion counseling or other family planning services if doing so would violate their moral beliefs, according to administration officials.

The rollback of the so-called conscience rule comes just two months after the Bush administration announced it late last year in one of its final policy initiatives.

The new administration's action seems certain to stoke ideological battles between supporters and opponents of abortion rights over the responsibilities of doctors, nurses and other medical workers to their patients.

Seven states, including California, Illinois and Connecticut, and two family-planning groups have filed lawsuits challenging the Bush rule. They argue that it sacrifices the health of patients to the religious beliefs of medical providers.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has reported cases, such as that of a Virginia mother of two who became pregnant after she was denied emergency contraception. In Texas, according to the group, a rape victim had her prescription for emergency contraception rejected by a pharmacist.

7 Things Obama's Win Could Mean for Women's Health

Just looking at this list makes me all tingly!! They go into more depth on each item here. To quote Oliver- We have a president who believes in science! And he will appoint people who believe in science!

1. No more federal funds for abstinence-only education.

2. No more global gag rule.

3. Better coverage for contraception and pregnancy.

4. Reversal of the "conscience" regulation that threatens women's access to birth control.

5. Increases in funding for reproductive health clinics serving uninsured.

6. Fixing gender disparities in health insurance premiums.

7. Improved access to morning after pills and abortions for U.S. military women serving overseas.

Planned Parenthood VS John McCain

According to Ben, it's going to air in the Northern Virginia/D.C. area.