Guttmacher Institute Updates Summary of US Abortion Laws
The Guttmacher Institute, a research organization started by Planned Parenthood, has updated its annual survey of abortion laws in the United States. You can view it here. I occasionally dispute the characterization of a law, but find it to be a good starting point for research.
The Morality of Undercover Prolife Work
Janet Smith gave a great plenary address at this years UFL Conference on the question of whether it is morally permissible to lie to abortion clinic workers to obtain the truth about their practices. She notes at the outset that both St. Thomas and St. Augustine believed that all lies are immoral, but in some […]
Teresa Collett’s comment on the Gosnell case
Here is a link to a very good op-ed by Teresa Collett. Teresa explains why Gosnell could not have been prosecuted in Minnesota. http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/207450371.html?page=1&c=y&refer=y Richard M.
Mississippi abortion law enjoined
Here is a link to a LifeNews story on a decision from a federal judge enjoining Mississippi’a abortion law.http://www.lifenews.com/2012/07/02/judge-blocks-mississippi-law-to-make-it-abortion-free/?pr=1 The new Mississippi law required abortion practioners to have admitting privileges at local hospitals. The effect of the new law would likely have been to make Mississippi the only state in the country without an abortion clinic. Richard M.
New article on history of the Akron v. Planned Parenthood cases
“Back to the Future of Regulating Abortion in the First Term” Journal of Gender, Race and Justice, Vol. 16, 2012 U of Akron Legal Studies Research Paper No. 11-11 TRACY A. THOMAS, University of Akron School of Law Email: thomast@uakron.edu In 2011, more abortion bills were passed to restrict abortion than ever before. The proliferation […]
Interesting chart of abortion laws
Abortion-rights supporters have created an interesting visual illustration of states’ laws on abortion over at Remapping the Debate. The interesting thing about the chart is the ability of readers to adjust the weight given to particular abortion regulations in ranking states on how abortion regulations impact women. For example we know from a variety of […]
Questions women ask before getting an abortion
RH Reality Check, an abortion-rights blog, features news and commentary that can be quite provocative. For example, one post entitled A Different Type of Sidewalk Counseling provides commentary on what women seeking abortions ask other women who they know have had abortions. The questions the author lists undercuts claims by abortion rights advocates that women […]
Abortion Clinic Regulation
As the present battles in Kansas and Virginia show, controversies over abortion clinic regulation seem certain to continue. According to A. Barton Hinkle [Richmond Times-Dispatch, March 4, 2011], conventional labels like “conservative” and “liberal” are not predictive of where one stands on this issue. “[M]any so-called conservatives believe in limited government everywhere except the uterus.” […]
Understanding Virginia’s New Abortion Clinic Regulations
The Virginia Department of Health has invited public comment on proposed regulations of abortion clinics in that state. UFL member, Michael New, has posted a brief comment on the proposed clinic regulations on NRO. This is an opportunity for our members to assist in the formation of sound public policy. You can find the proposed […]
Requirements of Informed Consent Limit Autonomy?
Arthur Kaplan argues that opposing telemedicine abortion is irresponsible here. He argues that abortion providers have a right to determine the information that a patient needs with no “interference” by state legislatures. Curiously he justifies this return to a paternalistic notion of medical cares by a demand for patient autonomy. It appears he has little […]