Emergency Contraceptive

St. Petersburg Times, December 30,2008

It was timed perfectly. The federal rule that was just issued to allow health professionals to refuse to provide services such as the morning-after pill, if they violate the provider's convictions, is set to take effect just before the Obama administration takes over. How convenient.

Sarasota Herald Tribune, December 22, 2008

When people are losing their jobs and so many Americans are without health care, it is unconscionable that the Bush administration has issued a sweeping new regulation that would further undermine health care.

December 18, 2008, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Bush administration, in its final days, has issued a federal rule reinforcing protections for doctors and other health care workers who refuse to participate in abortions and other procedures because of religious or moral objections.

Critics of the rule say the protections are so broad that they limit a patient's right to get care and accurate information. For example, they fear the rule could make it possible for a pharmacy clerk to refuse to sell birth control pills and face no ramifications from an employer.

Josh Hafenbrack, Sun-Sentinel
March 13, 2008
TALLAHASSEE — A bill that defines life at conception for the purpose of prosecuting violent acts against pregnant women cleared a House panel Wednesday along sharply divided party lines.

Republican legislators on the committee pushed through the effort to define an "unborn child" as a fetus at any stage of development in the womb. Under current law, an unborn child is defined as a "viable fetus" that is "capable of meaningful life outside the womb through standard medical measures."

Desonta Holder, Miami Herald
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
1 Emergency contraception, sold under the brand name Plan B, is ''the best-kept secret in all of health care,'' says Carol Cohan, director of the Women's Emergency Network. About a year and a half ago it was approved for over-the-counter sales in the United States, but advertising was focused on ``glossy magazines like Vogue, targeting college age, young professional women and missing low-income women of color, who have the highest rate of unplanned pregnancies in the United States.''

Donna Wright, Bradenton Herald
March 4, 2008

Planned Parenthood of Southwest Florida announced Monday that its first health clinic in Manatee County will be located in Oneco.

"The lease has been signed," said Barbara Zdravecky, chief executive officer and president of the Planned Parenthood Southwest and Central Florida. "It has been my goal to help reduce the high teen pregnancy rate and high teen, repeat-birth rates in Manatee County ever since I joined Planned Parenthood 14 years ago."