NM abortion complaint highlights privacy concerns
Source: Associated Press
NM abortion complaint highlights privacy concerns
By JERI CLAUSING, Associated Press | February 7, 2013 | Updated: February 7, 2013 2:48am
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A woman from New York came to New Mexico to terminate her pregnancy at one of the nation's four late-term abortion clinics after she found out the fetus she had been carrying for more than eight months had severe brain abnormalities. There were complications during the abortion and the 26-year-old woman was rushed to the hospital with a ruptured uterus.
Nearly two years later, the intimate details of her medical treatment, her mental state, her religion and family status have become public as part of a state medical board probe that was initiated not by the patient, but by anti-abortion activists with Operation Rescue who aggressively monitor and file complaints based on 911 calls made from abortion clinics.
On Thursday, the New Mexico Medical Board is expected to decide whether to revoke the license of or otherwise discipline Dr. Shelley Sella, a former colleague of slain Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller and one of the few doctors in the country who still openly performs third-term abortions. It's a case that highlights Operation Rescue's aggressive attempts to halt abortions and raises questions about whether the tactics are an invasion of privacy when patient records become public.
The case also highlights the sensitivity surrounding late-term abortions, which several states have made illegal in recent years. Supporters of abortion rights say the procedures are rare and used only in cases where the health of the mother or child is in danger. Abortion opponents say they are a danger to mothers and painful for the unborn baby. The procedure involves injecting the fetus with a drug to stop its heartbeat and administering drugs over the next three to four days to prepare the cervix and induce labor.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/NM-abortion-complaint-highlights-privacy-concerns-4258370.php
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