LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Saturday, September 11, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Obama Administration Scurries to Fund Embryo Destruction After Court Ruling
• Scientists Seek Permanent Injunction Against Obama's Embryonic Funding
• Planned Parenthood, Legislator Defend Massive Overbilling Practices in California
• Practitioner Who Killed Woman in Botched Abortion Loses Medical License
• Abortion Practitioner Agrees to License Suspension After Severely Injuring Teen
• Fraud Should Lead to Government De-Funding Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz
• Abortion Industry Forced to Acknowledge Practitioners Risk Women's Health
• Judge in Embryonic Stem Cell Research Case Shows Proper Judicial Role
• Missouri Pro-Life Group Endorses Blunt as Poll Shows Him Leading Senate Race
• Arkansas' Lincoln Twists Abortion Bill to Attack Senate Candidate Boozman
• Oregon Bemoans High Suicide Rate While State Promotes Assisted Suicide
• YMaryland Pro-Life Groups Endorse Brian Murphy for Governor, Legislative Cands
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Obama Administration Scurries to Fund Embryo Destruction After Court Ruling
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- An appeals court has overturned the temporary injunction a federal judge put in place stopping the Obama administration's taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research. With perhaps just days before the judge potentially issues a permanent injunction, Obama officials are scurrying to fund more research.
U.S. district court Judge Royce Lamberth granted a preliminary injunction against the funding, which Obama officials appealed.
Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington put on hold that injunction while Judge Lamberth reviews the lawsuit itself.
Hours later, National Institutes of Health (NIH) director Francis Collins issued a statement saying NIH staff told scientists and research universities the Obama administration would move immediately to expedite requests for funds to get tax dollars in their hands for research and destruction of embryonic human beings before another ruling is issued.
"We are pleased with the Court's interim ruling, which will allow this important, life-saving research to continue while we present further arguments to the Court in the weeks to come," Collins said.
According to the science publication Nature, Sally Rockey, NIH's Deputy Director for Extramural Research, followed up Collins' statement with an email to senior agency officials saying 24 existing grants for embryonic stem cell research due for an annual funding renewal this month should be fast-tracked and new grant requests should be approved immediately.
"Given the delay in their issuance, hESC awards should be given priority including non-competing continuations, and new and renewing competing awards," Rockey wrote, according to Nature. Full story at LifeNews.com
Scientists Seek Permanent Injunction Against Obama's Embryonic Funding
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Responding to yesterday's decision by a federal appeals court to overturn the temporary injunction a federal judge put in place against the taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research President Barack Obama put in place, two scientists are asking the judge to issue a permanent injunction.
U.S. district court Judge Royce Lamberth granted a preliminary injunction against the funding and Obama officials appealed his decision and asked to put the injunction on hold so taxpayer dollars can continue to flow to embryonic stem cell research projects while the lawsuit against the order moves ahead.
Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington put on hold that injunction while Judge Lamberth reviews the lawsuit itself.
The purpose of this administrative stay is to give the court sufficient opportunity to consider the merits of the emergency motion for stay and should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits of that motion, the appeals court wrote in its decision.
Advocates International, part of the legal team that brought the lawsuit, announced late Thursday that it has filed a comprehensive summary judgment motion in the federal district court, including evidentiary declarations by plaintiff scientists Dr. James Sherley and Theresa Deisher.
The motion asks Judge Lamberth to enter a final declaratory judgment declaring invalid the Obama administration's controversial guidelines for public funding of embryonic stem cell research. Full story at LifeNews.com
Planned Parenthood, Legislator Defend Massive Overbilling Practices in California
Sacramento, CA (LifeNews.com) -- In new comments about a case pending in federal court showing how California Planned Parenthood massively overbilled the state on the purchase of birth control for poor residents, the abortion business and a state legislator are defending its actions -- that could cost it federal funding.
P. Victor Gonzalez, the former Chief Financial Officer for Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles saw millions in fraudulent overbilling to state and federal governments and was subsequently fired when he blew the whistle.
He filed a lawsuit that a lower court dismissed but a federal appeals court, in July, reinstated. http://www.lifenews.com/state5226.html
Gonzalez says his own internal audit estimates that Planned Parenthood overcharged California taxpayers for purchasing birth control by at least $180 million.
A new Fox news report indicates he also found $5.2 million in overbilling at one Planned Parenthood affiliate in San Diego alone and he says Planned Parenthood officials intervened to prevent internal audits.
While other public health facilities and private facilities charged the state between $8 and $9 for a cycle of birth control pills, Planned Parenthood charged almost $12. The Planned Parenthood charge to the California government was several times more than it paid for the drugs originally.
In one case Fox News highlighted yesterday in its report, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles paid $225,695.65 for Ortho Tri-Cyclen birth control pills but billed the state government more than $918,000. Full story at LifeNews.com
Practitioner Who Killed Woman in Botched Abortion Loses Medical License
Annapolis, MD (LifeNews.com) -- A Maryland-based abortion practitioner who killed a woman in a failed abortion has had his medical license suspended. The Maryland Board of Physicians signed this week the suspension order for Romeo A. Ferrer, who may also face criminal charges in connection with the death.
The complaint against Ferrer revolves around a February 2006 abortion he did on a 21-year-old African-American woman, Denise Crowe, at Gynecare Center in Severna Park.
The woman sought a second trimester dilation and evacuation abortion procedure but it eventually claimed Crowe's life and left her three-year-old son without a mother.
Ferrer is accused of failing to properly administer pain medications, failing to monitor the patient s respiration and ventilation, and failing to employ standard methods of care to resuscitate the patient. He is accused of giving her a fatal overdose of meperidine, a narcotic also known as Demerol.
Shortly after the abortion, Ferrer's staff were unable to detect Crowe's vital signs and she was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center, where doctors pronounced her dead.
Crowe's estate filed a complaint in 2007 with the board accusing Ferrer of the various problems during the abortion. The Board of Physicians referred to a peer review organization to investigate, and it brought a complaint on April 7. Full story at LifeNews.com
 Medical professionals are on the frontlines of battle in life issues. From abortion to assisted suicide and euthanasia and all issues in between we are challenged in the workplace to defend our beliefs and risk our employment. The National Association of Pro-life Nurses has been here for nurses since the beginning of this battle. Join with us in our efforts to protect those voices. www.nursesforlife.org |
Abortion Practitioner Agrees to License Suspension After Severely Injuring Teen
Trenton, NJ (LifeNews.com) -- An abortion practitioner who severely injured a teenage girl in a botched abortion has entered into an agreement with the state of New Jersey to suspend his medical license. A pro-life group obtained more information showing the details of the agreement Steven Chase Brigham made.
Brigham is not allowed to do late-term abortions in New Jersey, one of the four states in which he owns an abortion business, because he doesn't meet the state's medical requirements. As a result, he has started late-term abortions for women there and transported them via rental care to his Maryland abortion centers to complete the abortions.
One abortion using this method went so poorly, Brigham was forced to take the teenager to a local Maryland hospital -- and she eventually had to be airlifted to Johns Hopkins Medical center because the abortion caused a perforated uterus and it required immediate surgery.
Documents Operation Rescue obtained Thursday through an open records request from the New Jersey Attorney General's office indicated that the state has not yet suspended Brigham's license. A verified complaint against Brigham was filed on September 8, 2010, requesting an emergency suspension.
An order to show cause and notice of hearing was also issued that same day. The hearing had been set for Wednesday of next week.
The pro-life group notified LifeNews.com today it has received an interim order filed today indicating that Brigham has agreed to a suspension of his license to practice medicine and surgery effective September 15 in exchange for additional time to prepare his defense. A hearing on his suspension is now scheduled for October 13. Full story at LifeNews.com
Fraud Should Lead to Government De-Funding Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz
by Cheryl Sullenger
Planned Parenthood Federation of America last week disenfranchised their Golden Gate affiliate in the midst of serious financial problems.
Apparently PPGG employees knew that there was financial funny business and sent a letter (mostly ignored) signed by 30 of them to the PPGG Board and parent organization in 2008 complaining about financial improprieties by former head Dian Harrison. In fact, the employees, past and present, still have a lot to say.
While employees complain Harrison and others spent PPGG's money lavishly on personal luxury items, the organization posted an $181,000 deficit in 2006-07, a $1.8 million deficit in 2007-08, and a $2.8 million deficit in 2008-09.
Now we learn that the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service is conducting an audit, as well it should.
It is obvious that PPFA cut ties with the Golden Gate operation in order to keep the financial scandal from creeping up the food chain. But we think it was more than that.
On August 12, 2010, a Federal Appeals Court quietly reinstated a lawsuit filed secretly in 2005 by Victor Gonzalez, former Chief Financial officer for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. That lawsuit alleges that various Planned Parenthood affiliates, including the Golden Gate organization, "knowingly engaged in a criminal plot to fleece state and federal taxpayers out of more than $180 million over the course of at least six years." Full story at LifeNews.com
Abortion Industry Forced to Acknowledge Practitioners Risk Women's Health
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The abortion industry almost never recognizes the ways in which abortions cause medical and mental health problems for women. With several abortion practitioners and businesses facing actions from state officials for health and safety violations, they're forced to acknowledge the real problems.
Abortion practitioner Steven Brigham is among the worst offenders.
He is not allowed to do late-term abortions in New Jersey, one of the four states in which he owns an abortion business, because he doesn't meet the state's medical requirements. As a result, he has started late-term abortions for women there and transported them via rental care to his Maryland abortion centers to complete the abortions.
One abortion using this method went so poorly, Brigham was forced to take the teenager to a local Maryland hospital -- and she eventually had to be airlifted to Johns Hopkins Medical Center because the abortion caused so much damage to her it required immediate surgery.
That has resulted in Brigham facing disciplinary actions -- and potential charges that could lead to jail time -- in both states.
Jill Stanek, a pro-life nurse and blogger, says "Brigham is so bad ... that even the abortion industry, with its exceedingly low standards requiring abortionists show up with a remotely functioning third world medical license in any field, has been forced to turn against him. Full story at LifeNews.com
Judge in Embryonic Stem Cell Research Case Shows Proper Judicial Role
by Tom Glessner, JD
Recently federal judge Royce Lambert issued a preliminary injunction barring the federal government from funding scientific research that uses stem cells derived from human embryos. The lawsuit was brought against the federal government by stem cell researchers who said the Obama executive order allowing federal funding for such research from the National Institutes of Health violates federal law prohibiting funding of the destruction of human embryos through scientific research.
Judge Lambert saw this fine line distinction unpersuasive and issued a preliminary injunction against the funding saying, (Embryonic stem cell) research is clearly research in which an embryo is destroyed. . . Embryonic stem cell research necessarily depends upon the destruction of a human embryo." An injunction of this nature is issued by a court only if the prevailing party shows that there is a strong likelihood of success on merits when the matter goes to trial. Thus, in the judge s opinion, there is a strong likelihood that this injunction will become permanent after trial.
I was ecstatic in reviewing this decision because finally a federal judge has made a ruling based upon the clear reading and intent of the law, as opposed to his or her own personal political preferences. Nobody knows what the personal views of Judge Lambert are on the issue of fetal embryonic research. However, such views are totally irrelevant. It is the role of the judiciary to interpret the law as it is clearly intended and not to base decisions upon political biases and what they think the law should be. Full story at LifeNews.com
Missouri Pro-Life Group Endorses Blunt as Poll Shows Him Leading Senate Race
Jefferson City, MO (LifeNews.com) -- Missouri Right to Life, the statewide pro-life organization, has released its congressional and state office endorsements for the November 2 general election. The group is backing Senate candidate Roy Blunt, who a new Rasmussen poll shows leading pro-abortion candidate Robin Carnahan. In Congressional races, the pro-life organization endorses Todd Akin, Ed Martin, Jacob Turk, Sam Graves, Billy Long, JoAnn Emerson, Blaine Luetkemeyer and Tom Schweich.
The Right to Life group is also behind State Auditor candidate Tom Schweich and split its endorsement in the 4th Congressional district between incumbent Democratic Rep. Ike Skelton and Republican challenger Vicky Hartzler.
"It has never been more important for voters to know where both Federal and State candidates stand on the life issues," said MRL president Pam Fichter.
"We are in the midst of the most anti-life administration in our country's history. This election represents a tremendous opportunity to return a pro-life majority to the U.S. Congress," she said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Arkansas' Lincoln Twists Abortion Bill to Attack Senate Candidate Boozman
Little Rock, AR (LifeNews.com) -- Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln looked desperate in a debate on Friday afternoon in which she made the accusation that her pro-life challenge Rep. John Boozman somehow supports the rights of rapists to sue abortion practitioners. She twisted the intent of a bill to protect parental rights to do so.
During the debate, each candidate had a chance to pose questions to the other.
"Congressman, you have voted to protect the rights of fathers who committed rape or incest against a minor that resulted in a pregnancy, to be able to sue the doctor who performed an abortion on that victim. Do you believe that the majority of Arkansas agree with your stance that the rights of rapists take priority of the rights of women who they have assaulted?" Lincoln asked.
"I really don't know what you're talking about," Boozman said in response. Full story at LifeNews.com
Oregon Bemoans High Suicide Rate While State Promotes Assisted Suicide
Salem, OR (LifeNews.com) -- Oregon officials are upset the state has a high suicide rate, but one bioethicists says the stance is duplicitous because the state promotes the practice of assisted suicide. Oregon s suicide rate is going through the roof, and the Oregon Health Authority said it is alarmed by that fact.
"Oregon s suicide rate is 35 percent higher than the national average," the state health department said. "The rate is 15.2 suicides per 100,000 people compared to the national rate of 11.3 per 100,000."
After decreasing in the 1990s, suicide rates have been increasing significantly since 2000, according to the new report OHA released entitled Suicides in Oregon: Trends and Risk Factors."
The report also details recommendations to prevent the number of suicides in Oregon. Full story at LifeNews.com
Maryland Pro-Life Groups Endorse Brian Murphy for Governor, Legislative Cands
Annapolis, MD (LifeNews.com) -- Two pro-life groups have issued endorsements for Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Murphy Concerned Women for America and Maryland Right to Life. Both backed the candidate while MRTL also issued endorsements for candidates for the state legislature.
"Brian Murphy is exactly the kind of candidate that Maryland needs in its next Governor," said Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women for America, a national pro-life women's group.
"Brian is committed to upholding traditional American family values espoused by CWA, including standing up for the sanctity of the unborn and all human life," Nance told LifeNews.com in a statement. "Brian will help take Maryland in a new direction and this is why we urge all voters to choose Brian as their Republican nominee this coming Tuesday, September 14th."
In response to the endorsement, Murphy issued a statement saying, "I am honored to have the support of CWA. Fiscal responsibility and American family values are the cornerstones of the United States, and CWA represents the very best of our shared heritage." Full story at LifeNews.com
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