The Battle Against Webcam Abortions
DES MOINES—During their recent Board Meeting, The Iowa Board of Medicine allowed for a public hearing on Planned Parenthood’s abortions by webcam on Friday, August 20, 2010. Despite the presence of multiple pro-life groups from across the state, the Board allowed only six people to testify and gave them only 10 minutes (or 1 minute and 40 seconds per person.)
This public hearing was the result of a complaint to the Board by Operation Rescue and a follow-up letter from pro-life groups in the state of Iowa, including Iowa Right to Life. The group’s complaint was that Planned Parenthood’s so called “telemedicine” abortions (where a doctor does not see the woman in person, but consults by webcam) is a violation of Iowa’s legal requirements for abortionists.
Earlier this year, bills were introduced in the Iowa House and Senate to halt the practice of webcam abortions in Iowa and require abortionists to comply with the FDA protocol on medication abortions. These bills, which died in committee, were sponsored by Sen. David Johnson, Reps. Matt Windschitl, Betty De Boef, Daniel Huseman, Royd Chambers, Dwayne Alons, Jason Schultz, Chuck Soderberg and Chris Hagenow.
At the time of the hearing with pro-life groups, the Iowa Board of Medicine said it would discuss telemedicine/
webcam abortions at the Board’s October meeting. On August 25, the Iowa Board of Medicine announced that they have appointed a committee to study the use of video and other electronic communication in health care.
Kathleen Sebelius, the radically pro-abortion Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced August 27 that approximately $4 million in federal grants will be allotted to “telehealth programs across the country.”
This announcement comes just three days after a hearing before the Iowa Board of Medicine over whether Planned Parenthood’s “telemedicine” (or webcam) abortions should be allowed to continue.
Iowa Right to Life, “But the timing of the announcement is suspect. Where there is a whiff of taxpayer money, Planned
Parenthood is never far behind.”
The HHS grants are part of a larger $32 million grant program that is supposed to improve health care in rural America.
Other Supporters of the Fight Against Webcam Abortions in Iowa
Below is a list of other groups who, along with Iowa Right to Life, signed on to a letter to the Iowa Board of Medicine asking them to end Webcam Abortions in Iowa.
Cheryl Sullenger, Sr. Policy Advisor, Operation Rescue,
Steven N. Brody, Executive Director,
Steve Scheffler, President,
Chuck Hurley, President,
Maggie DeWitte, Executive Director, Iowans for Life
Steve Tatz, President, Iowans for Life
Jenny Condon, Executive Director, Illumination Media,
Marilyn Sharp, Board President, Gabriel Project,
Mary Gansen, Four Seasons for Life,
Samuel Kramer, Tri-County Citizens for Life, Elma
Mary Eileen Devine Meyer,
Board of Directors, Coalition for Life of
Mike Laake, State Deputy, Knights of
Janette Clausen, Director,
Dave Prenger, President, Carroll Area Iowans for Life
Renee and Kerry McGuire, Carroll Couple to Couple League, Des. Moines
Margie Augustine, Chair, Respect Life Group, Christ the
Carla Butler and Carol Remer, Coordinators, Siouxland Life Chain,
Msgr. Frank Bognanno, Pastor, Christ the
Elizabeth McGehe, ARNP, FNP-C, Natural Family Planning
Judy Liston, Chairperson, Respect Life Ministry, St. Anthony Church,
Paula Templemeyer, Moderator, Respect Life Group, St. Edmond High School,
Jan Young, Pro-Life Chair, Pro-Life Committee, St. Boniface Catholic Church, Waukee
Chris Lang and Bob Bartusek, Chairs, Pro-Life Committee,
Carolyn Smith, President,
Paul and Tricia Pietig, President, Couple to Couple League,
Hugh O’Hagan, Grand Knight, Knights of
Sue Martinek, Chairperson, Pro-Life With Love,
Valerie J. Owens, Executive Director, Healthy Connections, Inc., Winterset
Father Michael Peters, Abort Abortion
Phil Turnis, Co-Chair,
Judeth Albert, Johnson
Bound4 Life,
Randy and Sharon Horn, Heart of
Tamara Scott, State Director, Concerned Women for
Wendy Wright, President, Concerned Women for
Joseph Brinck, President, Sanctity of Life Foundation
Carol Everett, Founder and CEO, The Heidi Group,
Day Gardner, President, National Black Pro-Life
Buddy Smith, Executive Vice President, American Family Association
David Bereit, National Director, 40 Days for Life,
Kelsey Hazzard, President, SecularProLife.org,
Judie Brown, President, American Life League,
Father Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life, President, National Pro-Life Religious Council (several hundred members in
David Stevens, MD, MA (Ethics), CEO, Christian Medical Association
Eric Scheidler, Executive Director, Pro-Life Action League,
Ms. Jo Tolck, Executive Director, Human Life
Peggy Hartshorn, President, Heartbeat International,
Peggy Hamill, State Director, Pro-Life
Tom Minnery, Sr. Vice President, Government and Public Policy, Focus on the Family,
William Saunders, Sr. Vice President and Sr. Counsel, Americans United for Life, D.C.
For More Information:
Jenifer Bowen
Executive Director
Iowa Right to Life
515.419.7246
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