New York Hospital Is Ordered to Release Abortion Records

[kskiska]

A federal judge in Manhattan has ordered New York-Presbyterian Hospital to turn over to the Justice Department records on abortions performed there, saying the disclosure would not unduly harm the hospital or the privacy of its patients.

The ruling, issued on Thursday by Judge Richard Conway Casey of Federal District Court, conflicts with the interpretations of judges in other jurisdictions and creates further uncertainty about the limits of patients' medical privacy.

Federal judges in Chicago and San Francisco have refused in recent weeks to order clinics and hospitals to turn over the abortion records sought by the Justice Department, and legal analysts said the Supreme Court might ultimately have to review the issue because of the conflicting interpretations.

New York-Presbyterian, which includes hospitals at Columbia-Presbyterian Center and New York Weill Cornell Center, said it was considering an appeal of Judge Casey's order

more…
http://nytimes.com/2004/03/20/national/20ABOR.html

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Another hospital shakedown...

This is just NOT right! :grr:

[Democat]

2. The hospital must refuse - make the Justice Department do an armed raid

Imagine the value of footage of an armed raid by Bush extremists on a hospital to the campaign to get rid of Bush.

Some voice over about privacy, while footage of some brownshirts with guns raiding the hospital for private medical records.

Let's hope the hospital stands up for its patients!

[oceanpoetry]

3. why is the government trying to get hospital abortion records?

I have been trying to figure out what the political objective of this is....

[liberalnurse]

6. Looking at reasons why they had the abortion.....

Looking for reasons that may not be appropriate.....so they can prosecute the physicians.......

[jayfish]

7. Simply Stated...

The government wants to ban late-term abortions. Doctors say that late term abortions are primarily performed when the life of the mother is at risk. The gov says we Will make you prove it by subpoenaing abortion records.

Jay

[54anickel]

14. Thanks, I was wondering what this was all about. This is like the 3rd

headline I have seen regarding abortion records. This is nuts! So are they looking at records for all abortions, or just late-term? Is there a different code used for LT?

[liberalnurse]

5. What happened to the HIPPA Law?

I smell lawsuits!

[Skittles]

12. it is HIPAA

:)

I load HIPAA external codes at work.

[PaDUer]

8. Contact these hospitals

to let them know you're against them pulling these records..Time to fight these pukes all the way..They've been getting away with everything they do..time to stand up!

[LiberalFighter]

15. Hospital should...

include on all the records...

Abortion performed by order of John Asskroft

[PaDUer]

17. Great idea...

why not..then they can't do a thing..they're just playing their "bully" roles. These psychos should be committed.

[LiberalFighter]

13. Hospital should plant fake records to include...

that the judge had his daughters have abortions.

[jayfish]

4. I Wonder What Slush Thinks Of This Decision. -NT-

Jay

[DeepModem Mom]

9. kick

[DS1]

10. I feel ill

and I'm wondering if the JD needs to know that too?

:puke:

[AspenRose]

11. This is disturbing

Our formerly private lives are not so private anymore.

The erosion of privacy (and the laws which protect it) within the past few years is/are NOT coincidental.

WAKE UP AMERICA!

[54anickel]

16. Looks like a witch hunt on doctors trying to block the law

The hospital was brought into the issue because two of its attending doctors are among abortion providers suing to block the law. Hospital officials said it was still unclear how many of its patient records would be covered by the Justice Department's request.

This will also "stigmatize" women who have had an abortion, which is probably what they really want. Looks like the back alley coat hanger abortions will be making a comeback anyway.

Judge Casey said the records were not covered by federal laws governing medical privacy because the hospital could delete information that identified the women who received abortions.

The judge also rejected the hospital's argument that turning over the records would be an "undue burden" and could prompt "anger and mistrust of its patients, and damage to its reputation."

[BeHereNow]

18. Yep-"stigmatize women" is right.

This has the stamp of the dominionists all
over it if you ask me.
Women who have had abortions should
be stoned, according to the reconstructionists.
This is some scary shit folks.
WHAT exactly are these freaks up to?
What is the motive and in whose interest
are the questions that disturb me in regards
to this topic.
It is NO ONES business what a woman chooses
to do with her body but her own.
And you are correct, this is going to push
women back to the back room butcher blocks.
I am am horrified by this insanity.
BHN

[ConcernedCanuk]

19. Well, it shouldn't happen if this poll means anything

.
.
.

Active Poll online:

Should hospitals hand over abortion records to the government?

Yes - 17% - 14040 votes

No - 83% - 69411 votes


http://www.cnn.com/ - Scroll to bottom right hand side

[spanone]

20. Another chill to Roe V. Wade. Intimidation by the government.

Another 4 years and abortion will be back in the alleys and hack doctors of the past. The rich will still have their doctors and the poor will die from coat-hanger abortions. Trust me this WILL happen and in the name of God.

[Malva Zebrina]

21. I weep for my sisters

under this fascist regime of George Bush. He has steadily eaten away at all the rights we fought for that culminated in finally , Roe vs Wade. We were relieved to have reached that milestone.

Who would ever have thought that the government would actually invade the patient-doctor relationship and order records be handed over to them so they can prosecute people or catch them at breaking the law.

We are teetering on the brink of another dark age. George Bush must be ousted from our house. It is crucial.