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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).

FDA Warns Web Sites Against Marketing Fraudulent H1N1 Flu Virus Claims
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is enforcing the laws that protect consumers from illegal products marketed through the Internet that claim to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure the 2009 H1N1 flu virus.
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About 75% Of People In Rwanda Who Have Experienced Discrimination Are HIV-Positive, Survey Finds
A recently released survey on stigma in Rwanda indicates that at least 74% of people in various segments of society who have experienced discrimination are HIV-positive, the New Times/AllAfrica.com reports. The discrimination often is in the form of isolation from family and physical harassment, according to the survey. The study was conducted by the Association of Vulnerable Widows Infected and Affected by HIV and AIDS in conjunction with the Network of People Living with HIV and UNAIDS Rwanda. It found that although 87% of respondents reported never having been denied health services, 88% reported being denied other social services, such as family planning, because of their HIV status. An estimated one-third of respondents reported that their rights had been abused because of their HIV-positive status. Chantal Nyiramanyana, AVVAIS president, said, "We conducted this survey as a way of providing basis for advocacy, policy change, and programmatic interventions by the government and other interested bodies to address stigma and discrimination related to HIV." The survey found that other groups experiencing stigma in the country include commercial sex workers and asylum seekers (Kwizera, New Times/AllAfrica.com, 5/27).
Mental Health

Physician Leaders Seek Help From Congress To Improve Health Care For Border Patients

WHAT Physician leaders from along the U.S.-Mexico border and San Antonio head to Washington, D.C., to discuss the dire health care situation along the U.S.-Mexico border. Physicians representing the Texas Medical Association (TMA) and the Border Health Caucus are meeting one-on-one with U.S. representatives and senators to support legislation that improves health care access. They also have invited congressional leaders to their 4th Annual Border Health Conference. Issues to be discussed at the full-day conference include: - Impending public health crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border, - Critical physician shortage and steps needed to shore up access for border patients, and - Poor physician retention rates and implications for health care along the border. WHEN Tuesday, June 23: One-on-one congressional meetings *Wednesday, June 24, 9 am-3 pm: 4th Annual Border Health Conference WHERE South Congressional Meeting Room, Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. WHO Physicians moderating the panel discussions at the 4th Annual Border Health Conference include these: - El Paso surgeon Manny Acosta, MD: Chair, Border Health Caucus, and consultant, TMA Council on Legislation - Edinburg internist E. Linda Villarreal, MD: Member, TMA Council on Legislation; delegate, Texas Delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA); district chair, TMA Political Action Committee; and member, Border Health Caucus - El Paso orthopedic surgeon Luis H. Urrea II, MD: President, El Paso County Medical Society; district chair, Texas Medical Association Political Action Committee; and member, Border Health Caucus Other physicians speaking on behalf of Texas" border patients at Capitol Hill: Bulverde -- Family physician Valorie Robertson, MD: Member, TMA Council on Socioeconomics and Border Health Caucus Eagle Pass -- Obstetrician and gynecologist David Land, DO: President, Maverick County Medical Society, and member, Border Health Caucus El Paso -- Cardiologist Sergio Alvarez, MD: Member, El Paso County Medical Society, TMA, and Border Health Caucus -- Infectious disease specialist Gilbert A. Handal, MD: Member, TMA Committee on Child and Adolescent Health and Border Health Caucus -- Family physician Jose "Joe" Luna Jr., MD: Member, El Paso County Medical Society, TMA, and Border Health Caucus -- Nephrologist Fernando F. Raudales, MD: Member, TMA Council on Socioeconomics; district chair, TMA Political Action Committee; and member, Border Health Caucus -- Urologist David O. Taber, MD: Past president, El Paso County Medical Society, and member, Border Health Caucus Laredo -- Family physician Luis Benavides, MD: Member, TMA Political Action Committee, TMA Council on Constitution and Bylaws, TMA Council of Legislation, and Border Health Caucus McAllen -- Gastroenterologist Carlos Cardenas, MD: Member, TMA Board of Trustees and Border Health Caucus -- Ophthalmologist Chevy Lee, MD: Secretary/Treasurer, Hidalgo-Starr County Medical Society; district chair, TMA Political Action Committee; and member, Border Health Caucus -- Internist James Stewart, MD: President, Hidalgo-Starr County Medical Society; member, TMA Council on Health Promotion; and member, Border Health Caucus Rio Grande City -- Family physician Antonio Falcon, MD: Member, TMA Foundation and TMA Foundation Finance Committee; district chair, TMA Political Action Committee; and member, Border Health Caucus San Antonio -- Family physician John J. Nava, MD: Member, TMA Council on Health Promotion; district chair, TMA Political Action Committee; and member, Border Health Caucus TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 44,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA"s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans. Texas Medical Association


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