Maricopa County Bans Abortions in County Hospitals

Just heard it on News 5. Here's the link:
http://www.kpho.com/Global/story.asp?S=2397141&nav=23KuRiRw

go????

Lawsuit on the way???

It's not like the county has to *pay* for the services. That's up to the woman. Looks like you can go to planned parenthood or a back alley. Real nice.

I hope Janet does something. What I don't know. Maybe make a statement ay least.

It says the mother's life, not her health. How are they going to decide a woman is close enough to dying to do an abortion? How many women are going to have long term health complications because they can't get an abortion? I've said for a while that this is turning into a serious women's medical issue and we should start approaching it that way. A woman and her doctor has to be able to decide when she needs an abortion and every health facility in the country should be required to do them.

http://www.ppfa.org/ sent out this info:

This morning, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of an "intergovernmental agreement" (IGA) for the new Maricopa County Special Health Care District. Planned Parenthood of Central and Northern Arizona has raised concerns, and will continue to do so, about specific language in the IGA that puts an abortion restriction on the deed of the new Health Care District: "No abortion shall be performed at any facility under the jurisdiction of the District unless such abortion is necessary to save the life of the woman having the abortion or is otherwise required by law." (Section 6.3)

This deed restriction is a political move. It is important to note that elective abortions are not currently performed at the Maricopa County Hosptial or any of its health facilities. Legal restrictions are already in place, so this action was unnecessary and, quite frankly, a waste of taxpayers' time and dollars. In addition, by placing this language in the deed, it seeks to bar the future Health Care District Board of Supervisors from ever lifting the abortion restriction. Even if the Arizona Legislature or the US Congress repealed laws prohibiting government funds for elective abortions, the Maricopa County Health Care facilities would not be able to offer this important AND LEGAL medical service.

Four of the supervisors voted in favor of the IGA: Chairman Andy Kunasek (District 3), Supervisor Fulton Brock (District 1), Don Stapley (District 2) and Max Wilson (District 4).
Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox was the only member who raised real legal and jurisdictional concerns about this language, and was the lone vote against it.

PPCNA will continue to monitor this situation. Pro-choice residents in Maricopa County should 1) email Supervisor Wilcox at mrwilcox@mail.maricopa.gov and thank her for her vote, and 2) vote on November 2nd in the election of the new Health Care District Board of Supervisors.

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We need to vote in Healthcare Board Members who won't committ such nastiness. More info on the candidates for the Healthcare Board from:
http://www.azforhealthcare.org

Arizona for Health Care is devoted to informing the public about the candidates for the Special Health Care District Board and so we asked each of the candidates the following question: "If elected, what would you do for the public health care system in Maricopa County?"


If you live in...

Tempe
Guadalupe
Chandler
Queen Creek
then you live in District 1

Cave Creek
Carefree
Scottsdale
Fountain Hills
Paradise Valley
Mesa
Gilbert
then you live in District 2

Greater Phoenix
New River communities .
then you live in District 3

El Mirage
Glendale
Litchfield Park
Peoria
Sun City
Sun City West
Surprise
Wickenburg
Youngtown
then you live in District 4

Avondale Buckeye
Gila Bend
Gila River Indian Community
Glendale
Goodyear
Guadalupe
Phoenix
Tolleson
then you live in District 5


District 1

If elected, what would you do for the public health care system in Maricopa County?

Bill Bruno: What I hope to see in the health care district is a place that provides the highest level of medical services, and a pay scale in accordance with income, based on what they can afford. I see it as a magnet for attracting health care providers. I see it as a partner for private health care industry in providing services in the county and maximizing our resources.

Billy Little: It is my goal to make it a fiscally responsible organization so they don't keep coming back to the taxpayers to ask for more money for property taxes to run the organization. The current budget is more than enough to run that system.

District 2

If elected, what would you do for the public health care system in Maricopa County?

Merwyn Grant: What I see for the future is that with the district's ability to now provide some of the physical facilities that have been neglected for so long. The public needs to know that County Hospital is a teaching hospital of the highest quality and serves the needs in the community. When we talk about curtailing services - to cut out those who can't pay - the task force decided that is not what we needed to do.

Charlie Gail Hendrix: My thoughts for the system are, basically , to have a fiscally solvent organization. What I propose to do is have three sub-committees: one on services and how well they are being provided; one on internal structure; and another on philanthropy coupled with private health care providers.

District 3

If elected, what would you do for the public health care system in Maricopa County?

Paulina Morris: I will work toward continuing to provide top quality care to our community, and continue to care for our underserved population. I don't think people understand what our problem is. What I'm doing now is talking to groups to tell them about our public health care system , the quality of care it provides, and what we are voting on in this November election.

Ted Williams: I envision the Maricopa County health care system must maintain its mission, the quality of care, and a professional management of its finances. It needs to also effectively utilize its resources , minimize any reliance on taxes, and continue to be the premier teaching hospital in Maricopa County.

James Kraft: No comment.

District 4

If elected, what would you do for the public health care system in Maricopa County?

Alegro Godley: I see the need for expanded and improved health care services for this population. Adequate, available, acceptable, accessible and affordable quality health services must be planned for the vast uninsured, marginally insured constituency of the Maricopa County Special Health Care District and for other segments of the population who choose to use this health care resource. It must continue to provide access to its highly regarded Level I Trauma Center, Burn Center, and its Primary Health/Family Health/Community Health Centers.

Gerald Cuendet: Out of town and unavailable to comment before we went to press.

District 5

If elected, what would you do for the public health care system in Maricopa County?

James J. Chavez: I envision strengthening financial viability of the system and strengthening and expanding existing services as fiscally prudent

William "Wink" Weiss: I envision ensuring a legacy of fiscally responsible health care.

Will "Theo" Davis: I believe everybody should have equal opportunity to receive health care regardless of income or other factors.

Silvia "Pinkey" Moreno:

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Arizona for Health Care Education Programs

October 5th, 12 pm- National Assn. Of Retired Federal
Employees, Hideaway Café, 4830 E. Main St., Mesa

Arizona for Health Care is...
...a broad-based coalition of individuals and organizations concerned about the health care crisis in Arizona and across the country. The coalition includes working families, small business owners, senior citizens, health care employees, community leaders, and policy makers.

AZ4HC is part of a national effort to win quality, affordable health care for all of us in the United States. We are the state organization of Americans for Health Care, a project of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU is the largest union of health care employees in the nation).

We hope you'll join us. Americans for Health Care is working in states across the country to make affordable, accessible, quality health care a reality for all Americans. See the contact information at the end of this e-mail to find out how you can do your part.



Dates and Locations for Candidates Forums

District #1 - TBD, The Valley Unitarian Universalist Church , 6400 West Del Rio Street, Chandler, AZ 85226

District #2 - October 7 @ 7 pm, Queen of Peace Church, 141 N. MacDonald, Mesa, AZ. 85008

District #3 - October 7 @ 6 pm, Phoenix College, 1202 W Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85013

District #4 - Oct. 20 @ 6 pm, The Sun City West Foundation, 14465 W RH Johnson Boulevard, Sun City West, AZ 85375

District #5 - September 30 @ 6 pm, Wilson Elementary School 3025 East Fillmore Phoenix, AZ 85008

I live in Oregon, I caught this when I hit the latest button where all new posts are. This is really important and I think alot of people would be interested in helping bring attention to whats been done here.