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NPR Program Features Discussions On Several Topics Related To Abortion Rights
NPR"s "Talk of the Nation" on Tuesday included a discussion with NPR health policy correspondent Julie Rovner regarding abortion-rights policies and other reproductive health-related issues under the Obama administration. Rovner also discussed a recent Gallup poll that found more U.S. residents described themselves as "pro-life" rather than "pro-choice" for the first time. Rovner noted that public opinion on abortion "tends to be countercyclical to who"s in charge." For example, when the president and the majority in Congress both oppose abortion rights, supporters of those rights "tend to get kind of riled up," she said. Similarly, abortion-rights opponents often are more vocal when abortion-rights supporters occupy the White House and control the majority in Congress, "[s]o it wouldn"t be surprising that you would see ... more of a pro-life push in opinion polls." Rovner noted that the percentage of people who believe abortion should be always illegal or always legal has not changed significantly since 1975. The discussion included Obama"s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, and his administration"s proposal to repeal the Bush administration"s HHS "conscience" rule, which expanded the ability health care workers now have to refuse to provide services they find morally or religiously objectionable. Rovner said that a finalization of the Obama administration"s proposal on the refusal rule is expected in July, although she added that repealing the rule would "likely have little practical effect" because existing statutes already protect workers with moral and religious objections. When asked about whether Obama has lived up to the expectations of abortion-rights supporters who endorsed him as a candidate, Rovner said that the president has "tried very hard to steer middle ground on this issue, to say, really, there should be a way to find peace" (Conan [1], "Talk of the Nation," NPR, 6/9).Tuesday"s program also included a discussion on how some physicians decide whether they will perform abortions and how that decision affects their lives. Guests included Suzanne Poppema, board chair of Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, and John Kelly, a retired surgeon who opposes abortion rights (Conan [2], "Talk of the Nation," NPR, 6/9).

California's Struggle With Insurance Exchanges Offers Lesson For National Reform
California"s experience with insurance exchanges could prove a valuable lesson for the nation"s flirtation with such pools for covering large numbers of people, The Wall Street Journal reports.
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Brain Malformations Significantly Associated With Preterm Birth
New research out of Wake Forest University School of Medicine provides for the first time a solid scientific answer for the long-standing question of whether there is an association between preterm birth and brain malformations.
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Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology Conference, Stockholm, Stockholm, October 26-28, 2009

"Epidemiology is always important and topical, though sometimes unsung," says Professor Johan Giesecke, Chief Scientist at ECDC, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, "but the third applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology Conference in Stockholm in October this year will be an opportunity to put Epidemiology and infectious disease prevention and control into the spotlight; delegates will have the opportunity to discuss and share information on current and emerging infectious diseases, including influenza A (H1N1)v. The call for abstracts closes on July 3rd so there is no time to lose." "Let me stress," he adds, "that influenza is not the only topic. We welcome abstracts relating to all infectious diseases in areas of applied public health research, outbreak investigations and public health surveillance. We also welcome abstracts in other areas of applied epidemiology or public health practice in which results are linked to public health action. We have an easy-to-use online system for abstract submission and conference registration to be found at http://www.escaide.eu. And it is not to soon to register. Remember, Sweden has the Presidency of the EU in the second half of this year, so we advise you to book your flights and hotel early." The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - ECDC - will host the third annual European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology - ESCAIDE - in Stockholm, home to the ECDC, from October 26-28. The event is being organized in partnership with the European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET) and the EPIET Alumni network (EAN). It is a unique opportunity for frontline professionals from national disease control institutes to engage with each other and the wider scientific community. The Conference aims at: - strengthening and expanding the network of all those involved in applied infectious disease epidemiology; - sharing scientific knowledge and experience in this field in Europe and internationally; and - providing a dedicated platform for fellows of the EPIET/FETP (field epidemiology training program) to present their work. ESCAIDE 2009 is expecting participation of up to 500 health experts from more than 60 countries. The application for ESCAIDE to be accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) as in 2008 is under way. This should enable participants to be granted up to a maximum of 18 CME credits for participating in the conference while the registration costs will remain low. More information can be found at http://www.escaide.eu ECDC Set up in 2005 and headquartered in Stockholm, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is a EU agency which aims to strengthen Europe"s defences against infectious diseases. ECDC"s mission is to identify, assess and communicate current and emerging threats to human health posed by infectious diseases. In order to achieve its mission, ECDC works in partnership with national health protection bodies across Europe to strengthen and develop continent-wide disease surveillance and early warning systems. By working with experts throughout Europe, ECDC pools Europe"s health knowledge, so as to develop authoritative scientific opinions about the risks posed by current and emerging infectious diseases. EPIET EPIET is the European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training, which provides training and practical experience in intervention epidemiology at the national centres for surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the European Union (EU). Presentation of EPIET diplomas will be the closing event of the Conference. ECDC


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