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Reps. Ryan, DeLauro Announce Bill To Reduce Unplanned Pregnancies, Provide Social Supports
Abortion opponent Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and abortion-rights supporter Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) held a press conference on Thursday to announce a bill that aims to reduce the need for abortion by preventing unintended pregnancies, among other proposals, the New York Times" "The Caucus" reports. The bill -- crafted in part by the centrist group Third Way -- would increase access to contraceptive services, sex education, health care coverage for pregnant women and children, and adoption. It also would expand access to comprehensive sex education and adoption programs.The bill has the support of abortion-rights groups like the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and NARAL Pro-Choice America, both of which had representatives at the press conference. The bill also has the support of antiabortion-rights religious leaders like Joel Hunter of Northland, Fla., and Derrick Harkins of Washington, D.C.The bill, which has been introduced in each of the past three congressional sessions, could "broker a detente" and help "turn down the volume on the culture war," DeLauro said at the press conference. Ryan called the bill an "idea whose time has come," noting that it has gained support from advocates on both sides of the abortion-rights debate.During the press conference, Hunter said advocates of the bill, regardless of their side in the abortion-rights debate, are "taking heat" from other members of their side. He added that the bill is important because it "links together traditional adversaries in a way that advances each of our goals without compromising any of our values" (Becker, "The Caucus," New York Times, 7/23). Harkins said that he is "more optimistic now than I ever have been," adding that women "need real support that divisive debates cannot provide" (Stephenson, CQ HealthBeat, 7/23).Despite support from some antiabortion-rights advocates, the bill has not been welcomed by all groups opposed to abortion rights, including conservative groups Family Research Council, National Right to Life and Democrats for Life of America. Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life, said her group does not support the bill because preventing unintended pregnancies already is a goal of other programs. She noted that her group instead supports the Pregnant Women Support Act (HB 2035, SB 270), which focuses on services for women who carry their pregnancies to term but does not include prevention (CQ HealthBeat, 7/23). In a statement, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said the bill is "fraught with funding for abortion providers and provisions that further encourage promiscuous sex and discourage parental involvement."Although the White House has not voiced a position on the bill, there are "reasons to believe" that the Obama administration will support some of the legislation"s proposals, "The Caucus" reports ("The Caucus," New York Times, 7/23). DeLauro said that she and Ryan plan to seek Republican co-sponsors for the bill, although they do not yet have any. She added that she thinks President Obama will support the bill because it includes language similar to his rhetoric on reducing the need for abortion. In addition, Obama"s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, was a co-sponsor of the bill when he served in the House (CQ HealthBeat, 7/23). Ryan said that the bill, which does not yet have an estimated cost, is "now open for support from all quarters."According to "The Caucus," the bill is being introduced at a time when abortion is a growing topic in health care reform legislation. Policymakers on both sides of the abortion-rights debate are expressing concern about how private insurance coverage of abortion is treated in health care reform. Ryan and DeLauro both support a policy that would neither require nor forbid insurance companies from covering the procedure ("The Caucus," New York Times, 7/23). During the press conference, DeLauro said that the new bill would not force insurance providers to cover abortion services. She said, "What we don"t want to do is go backward. We
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14.3 Million Midwives, Nurses And Doctors Demand Action On Maternal Deaths At July G8 Summit
In an unprecedented move today, millions of midwives, nurses and doctors across the world delivered a message to G8 leaders to take urgent action to prevent women dying needlessly in pregnancy and childbirth.
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Laughter - The Best Medicine? Spain Hosts The Most Renowned International Symposium On Sense Of Humor And Its Applications
Spain hosts this week, for the first time in history, this event, the most renowned international symposium on humour and laughter, where scientists and experts from four continents will discuss the latest advances and research of this field of study. The ninth occasion of the "International Summer School and Symposium on Humour and Laughter: Theory, Research and Applications" is being hosted by the University of Granada, and they will analyse the relationship between sense of humour and different fields such as anthropology, sociology, medicine or philosophy.
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New DVD Helps Doctors Managing Difficult Issues

To support doctors who are confronted with challenging issues in medical practice, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria have developed a DVD that provides doctors with tips on managing difficult situations while maintaining their legal and ethical obligations. The DVD Face to Face: Challenging Cases in Medical Practice , developed with financial support from the Department of Human Services ( Victoria ), features general practitioners in consultation with patients (played by actors) in a range of common and challenging scenarios. The scenarios explore issues that are frequently involved in complaints to the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria including: accepting gifts, bending the rules when supplying medical certificates, "doctor shopping" for prescription drugs, consenting minors and sexual misconduct. Dr Morton Rawlin, Chair, RACGP Victoria Faculty stressed that it was vital GPs were appropriately trained in dealing with challenging patient requests and knew how to establish some clear ground rules. "The RACGP welcomes the opportunity to work with the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria to produce this re. The DVD will be an important of information: most importantly the DVD addresses these issues in ways that are easy to apply to every day practice," said Dr Rawlin. Board President, Dr Robert Adler, said the Board hoped the DVD would support doctors and provide clear guidance when dealing with difficult situations. "The DVD illustrates good medical practice in Australia and details the expectations of the Board, the profession and the community on a range of issues," Dr Adler said. Victorian Health Minister, Daniel Andrews MP, will be launching the DVD at the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria offices in Melbourne on 18 June 2009. The Medical Board will give free copies of the DVD to medical practitioners granted specific registration, many of whom are international medical graduates seeking support and guidance as they make the transition to the Australian healthcare system. Copies of the DVD are available for sale through the RACGP website at http://www.racgp.org.au/publications/orders. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners


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