US reports two more deaths after abortion pill

By Lisa Richwine 2 hours, 45 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two new deaths have been reported after women took the abortion pill known as RU-486 but officials do not know if the fatalities are connected to the drug, U.S. regulators said on Friday.

"At this time we are investigating all circumstances associated with these cases and are not able to confirm the causes of death," the Food and Drug Administration said in an advisory to the public.

Four previously reported deaths were linked to complications from a bacterial infection that developed after the women took the abortion pill, which is sold by privately held Danco Laboratories.

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Parental Notification Laws Decrease Abortion.

The New York Times wrote about a study last week, which claims to destroy the link between parental-consent laws and decreases in abortion. Michael New published an excellent critique of the study on the National Review website.

However, a new study published by the New England Journal of Medicine does find a strong link between consent/notification laws and a decrease in abortion. The result, "The Texas parental notification law was associated with a decline in abortion rates among minors from 15 to 17 years of age." The decline recorded was anywhere between 11 and 20 percent, depending on the age group. Copied below is the executive summary of the article:

Background On January 1, 2000, Texas began enforcement of a law that requires physicians to notify a parent of a minor child seeking an abortion at least 48 hours before the procedure.

Methods We assessed changes in the rates in Texas of abortions and births (events per 1000 age-specific population) before enforcement of the parental notification law (1998 to 1999) and after enforcement (2000 to 2002). We did this by comparing the rate changes among minors 15 to 17 years of age at the time of conception (i.e., those who were subject to the law) with those of teens 18 years of age at the time of conception (i.e., those who were not subject to the law).

Results After enforcement of the law, abortion rates fell by 11 percent among 15-year-olds (rate ratio, 0.89; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.83 to 0.94), 20 percent among 16-year-olds (rate ratio, 0.80; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.76 to 0.85), and 16 percent among 17-year-olds (rate ratio 0.84; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.80 to 0.87), relative to the rates among 18-year-olds. Among the subgroup of minors 17.50 to 17.74 years of age at the time of conception (who would have been subject to the parental notification law in early pregnancy), birth rates rose by 4 percent relative to those of teens 18.00 to 18.24 years of age (rate ratio, 1.04; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.08). The adjusted odds ratio for having an abortion after 12 weeks' gestation among minors 17.50 to 17.74 years of age as compared with 18-year-olds was 1.34 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.10 to 1.62).

Conclusions The Texas parental notification law was associated with a decline in abortion rates among minors from 15 to 17 years of age. It was also associated with increased birth rates and rates of abortion during the second trimester among a subgroup of minors who were 17.50 to 17.74 years of age at the time of conception.

Death Penalty for Saddam?

I cannot understand the absurdity of these answers. An AP poll reports that only 57 percent of Americans want the death penalty for Saddam Hussein. Some people can't seem to grasp the fact that he was a dictator who committed genocide against the Kurdish, and his own, people.

Howard Kaloogian on WND

INVASION USA
Ban on wire transfers by illegals proposed
Supporters believe it will remove major incentive for crossing border

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Posted: March 6, 2006
2:32 p.m. Eastern

James L. Lambert
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

Howard Kaloogian

A Republican candidate for a vacated congressional seat in southern California is proposing a ban on wire transfers by illegal aliens from the U.S. to Mexico.

The plan "will remove a major incentive for illegal immigration and increase national security," said Howard Kaloogian, a well-known California activist who launched the effort to recall Gov. Gray Davis.

Kaloogian is the front-runner for the San Diego-area congressional seat held by Republican Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who was sentenced last week to eight years in prison on corruption charges.

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TIME: Interesting Abortion Commentary

Nancy Gibbs, author of "When Is an Abortion Not an Abortion?" in TIME magazine, wrote an insightful article about the S.D. abortion ban. She made an excellent comment on the lack of exceptions for rape and incest in her article:

What strikes me reading the bill is that this is a case where the Purists have carried the day. If a fetus is an innocent life deserving the full protection of the law, then the circumstances of conception, no matter how tragic, are irrelevant. Punish the rapist, they say, not the baby. Even the bill’s opponents agree that it has a kind of logical integrity. If this effort succeeds it will redraw the battle lines in the 30 Years Abortion War.

I agree Nancy. The circumstances of conception are irrelevant.

South Dakota Passes Abortion Ban, Governor Signs Today

From the Associated Press:

S.D. Governor Signs Abortion Ban Into Law

By CHET BROKAW, Associated Press Writer 37 minutes ago

PIERRE, S.D. - Gov. Mike Rounds on Monday signed legislation banning almost all abortions in South Dakota.

The Legislature passed the ban late last month, focusing nationwide interest on the state as the governor decided what to do about the measure.

The law, designed to raise a direct challenge to

Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, is scheduled to take effect July 1.

Under the law, doctors in South Dakota will face up to five years in prison for performing an abortion except when the procedure is necessary to save the mother's life.

Rounds issued a technical veto of a similar measure two years ago because it would have wiped out all existing restrictions on abortion while the bill was tied up for years in a court challenge.

South Dakota Planned Parenthood said it planned a quick court challenge.