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People with psoriasis an often distressing dermatological condition that causes lesions and red scaly patches on the skin are less likely to react to looks of disgust by others than people without the condition, new research has found.

University of Manchester scientists used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to compare the brains of 26 men, half of whom had chronic psoriasis. The researchers looked at the insular cortex a part of the brain triggered by both feelings and observations of disgust to see how participants responded to images of disgusted faces.

The study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, found that the volunteers with psoriasis had a much weaker response in their insular cortex than the healthy volunteers, suggesting they have developed a coping mechanism to protect themselves from adverse emotional responses to their condition by others.

“Psoriasis has a significant negative impact on the physical and psychological wellbeing of those affected but little is known about the neurocognitive mechanisms of how patients cope with the adverse social stigma associated with visible skin lesions,” said Dr Elise Kleyn, the dermatologist who carried out the research.

“We had previously shown that psoriasis patients commonly believe that they will be evaluated solely on the basis of their skin and so often avoid social situations they think will be stressful or humiliating as a coping mechanism.

“For this study we wanted to investigate whether the social impact of psoriasis is associated with altered cognitive processing in response to facial expressions of disgust by measuring brain activity in the insular cortex.

“We found a significantly reduced response in the insular cortex in the patients compared with the control volunteers when observing disgusted faces, but also that patients were half as likely to recognise that a face was expressing disgust. This was not the case for other facial expressions, such as fear.”

The research team, which was headed by worldrenowned dermatologist Professor Chris Griffiths, believe that one explanation for their findings is that psoriasis patients develop a coping mechanism to protect them from stressful emotional responses by blocking the processing of disgusted facial expressions encountered in others.

Dr Kleyn added “We believe that other stigmatising conditions, such as severe acne or scarring, may elicit similar findings, although further research is clearly needed. We think the insights provided by this study, however, could generate new strategies for managing stigmatising skin diseases.”

Source
Aeron Haworth

A recent poll on the H1N1 flu conducted by the American Red Cross found that more Americans are taking or planning on taking extra measures to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissue (78%) or wash their hands more carefully (76%) to avoid getting the flu.

The survey also found that 62 percent plan on being vaccinated against this new flu virus if one is offered.

While only 1 in 10 of those surveyed by the Red Cross claimed to be very worried about H1N1 flu (swine flu), results show people have a strong interest in taking protective actions.

The survey found that 93 percent of Americans are taking or planning to take at least one action to guard against this new flu. Nearly half of those surveyed (46%) plan on assembling a twoweek supply of food, water and medicine that they might need in the event they or someone in their family becomes sick and need to stay home for extended periods of time.

“Even though most Americans arent extremely worried about the virus, they seem interested in taking steps to protect themselves and their families,” said Scott Conner, Red Cross senior vice president of preparedness and health and safety services. “Taking those basic steps such as washing your hands more frequently and remaining at home if you are sick become even more important as the new flu season approaches.”

The survey results also found that women are more likely to take protective actions, with 84 percent making an extra effort to cover coughs and sneezes (versus 71 percent for men), and 81 percent washing their hands more carefully and more often (compared to 71 percent for men).

However, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating that a vaccine may not be available until later this fall, the Red Cross is urging people to remember these simple actions to help guard against the flu

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you dont have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.

Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcoholbased hands cleaners are also effective.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home if you are feeling sick.

As with any emergency, the Red Cross encourages people to prepare by getting an emergency kit, making a plan and being informed.

Later this fall, the Red Cross will be releasing a Pandemic Flu educational program for small businesses to help raise awareness and educate workplaces on what to expect and how to plan for a pandemic. Smaller companies often operate with fewer resources and limited capacity compared to their larger counterparts and can be particularly at risk for disruptions resulting from a flu pandemic.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nations blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization not a government agency and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.

The European Unions REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical) legislation is intended as a comprehensive safety evaluation for commercial chemicals used in consumer products that are traded in Europe at amounts more than one ton per year. However, implementation of the regulation may require 54 million research animals and €9.5 billion ($13.4 billion) over the next 10 years, which represents 20 times the number of animals and six times the cost anticipated in previous estimates, according to an analysis led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Currently, the EU uses approximately 900,000 animals at a cost of €600 million ($847 million) per year to evaluate new chemicals, drugs, pesticides and food additives. A commentary on the research is published in the August 26 edition of Nature. The full analysis will appear the same day as an electronic prepublication of the September 2009 edition of the journal ALTEX, Alternatives to Animal Experimentation.

“As a toxicologist, I support the aims of REACH it is the biggest investment into consumer safety ever,” said study author, Thomas Hartung, MD, PhD, DoerenkampZbinden Professor and Chair for Evidencebased Toxicology and director of the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. “However, I am concerned that we have underestimated the scale of the challenge. Investment into developing alternative research methods to meet REACH goals is urgently needed.”

According to Hartung and coauthor Constanza Rovida, estimates for the number of chemicals to be covered by REACH range from 68,000 to 101,000, which is higher than the earlier estimate of 29,000 chemicals. The analysis was based on the conservative estimate of 68,000 registered chemicals. Results showed that 90 percent of the projected animal use and 70 percent of the projected cost would come from research into reproductive toxicity testing. This often requires that data be collected from two species of test animals and their offspring. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations do not include twospecies provisions.

“A revision of test approaches especially for reproductive toxicity is essential. There is no alternative to REACH, but there will be no REACH without alternatives,” said Hartung.

Further discussions of REACH and alternative testing methods will be addressed at the 7th World Congress on Alternatives & Animal Use in the Life Sciences held in Rome, Italy, August 30 to September 3. The meeting is cochaired by Hartung.

Funding for the research was provided by the Transatlantic Think Tank for Toxicology.

Source
Tim Parsons

“What many people say they fear most from an overhaul of the health care system [is] the prospect of the federal governments limiting the medical care they receive,” the New York Times reports. Policy experts say people are right to worry about health care costs, but this fear of rationing is unrealistic. “[T]here is nothing in the current proposals in Washington to suggest that the country is likely to embark on a system of medical rationing anytime soon,” the Times reports (Abelson, 8/24).

A variation of this fear stems from proposals that would affect endoflife care. A Veterans Affairs guide to writing living wills, “Your Life, Your Choices,” spurred controversy last week when a former Bush administration official dinged it in a Wall Street Journal oped, NPR reports. The document asks veterans to choose in advance when they would say their lives are no longer worth continuing, based on criteria like relying on a wheelchair, living in a nursing home or being sad all the time. Jim Towey, the former leader of the White House Office of FaithBased Initiatives, said, “That makes them feel their life is a burden not a gift.” NPR notes that Dave Autry, a spokesman for Disabled Veterans of America, said “Its a tempest in a teapot as far as Im concerned, personally,” and adds “He says although health care is on the minds of veterans at the convention, the VA guide has gotten almost no attention. And then, mainly from veterans who worry that its being used to undermine attempts to change health care” (Shapiro, 8/24).

To critics of reform, Ezekiel Emanuel, a bioethicist and physician who advises the White House on health care issues, has become the object of many of these fears, the New York Times reports. Betsy McCaughey, the former lieutenant governor of New York, called him a “deadly” doctor who seeks to restrict care for the disabled, “a false assertion” gleaned from quoting his writing “out of context” and then repeated on the House floor by Rep. Michele Bachmann, RMinn. However, the Times reports, “The level of vitriol against him has led even some conservative opponents to defend Dr. Emanuel while expressing concern that it is overtaking what they say are more vital realworld critiques” (Rutenberg, 8/24).

This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org.

© Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

Researchers warn in a study just published on bmj.com that many women with ovarian cancer can go undiagnosed for months because their symptoms are not always being investigated without delay.

Three key symptoms associated with ovarian cancer are identified in the study. They should help clinicians decide whether to investigate further. However, one of these symptoms is not included in current guidance for urgent investigation.

Accounting for 4 percent of all cancers in women, ovarian cancer has the worst prognosis of all gynecological cancers. In the past, ovarian cancer was thought to have few symptoms and was often dubbed the “silent killer”. But recent studies have shown that symptoms are frequent and that their early identification has the potential to improve prognosis.

Researchers at the University of Bristol set about classifying the key symptoms that could indicate ovarian cancer in women presenting to primary care. They also estimated the positive predictive value for each symptom which is the probability that a woman with a particular symptom actually has ovarian cancer.

The study involved 212 women aged over 40 with a diagnosis of primary ovarian cancer. It also included 1,060 healthy controls from 39 general practices in Devon, England.

Seven symptoms were associated with ovarian cancer
• abdominal distension
• urinary frequency
• abdominal pain
• postmenopausal bleeding
• loss of appetite
• rectal bleeding
• abdominal bloating

Some women presenting with the first three of these symptoms waited at least six months before the diagnosis was made.

All symptoms had positive predictive values below 1 percent, except for abdominal distension, which had a positive predictive value of 2.5 percent. The authors explain that this means that it carries the highest risk and warrants rapid investigation. Yet persistent abdominal distension is not included in present guidance for urgent investigation. If it were, some women could have their diagnosis speeded up by many months.

The authors mention that the fact that symptoms are common and often reported is encouraging. This means there is some possibility of identifying early ovarian cancer by using symptoms. “This study provides an evidence base for selection of patients for investigation, both for clinicians and for developers of guidelines”, they write in conclusion.

In an associated note Dr Robin Fox writes that there is now increasing evidence that ovarian cancer is not a “silent killer” but one that presents with vague symptoms that have a low positive predictive value for cancer.

He writes that this study adds to the evidence base derived from primary care of red flag symptoms for several cancers, and is essential as the majority of patients in the United Kingdom present at first to primary rather than secondary care.

In an accompanying editorial, Joan Austoker from the University of Oxford adds that “the diagnosis of ovarian cancer will continue to be a challenge for primary care doctors.”

She argues that there is a need for further research to improve our knowledge of the predictive value of different symptoms in ovarian cancer. For now, she says it is important for both women and primary care doctors that ovarian cancer is no longer regarded as a silent killer.

“Risk of ovarian cancer in women with symptoms in primary care population based casecontrol study”
William Hamilton, consultant senior lecturer, Tim J Peters, professor, Clare Bankhead, university research lecturer, Deborah Sharp, professor
BMJ 2009; 339b2998

“Commentary Diagnosing ovarian cancer more problems than answers”
Robin Fox, honorary general practice research associate
doi=10.1136/bmj.b3233

“Diagnosis of ovarian cancer in primary care”
Joan Austoker, Director
doi=10.1136/bmj.b3286
bmj.com

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (”Bioniche”; TSX BNC), a researchbased, technologydriven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, provided an update on its Phase III clinical program evaluating Urocidin(TM) in the treatment of bladder cancer. Recruitment has been completed in its Phase III registration trial evaluating Urocidin in the treatment of nonmuscleinvasive bladder cancer that is refractory (unresponsive) to the current standard immunotherapy Bacillus CalmetteGuerin (BCG).

The Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) held its ninth meeting regarding this clinical trial last week. After its meeting, the Committee has recommended that Bioniche “continue the trial unmodified until the next scheduled or triggered meeting.” The next scheduled meeting of the Committee is scheduled to occur in October.

The DMC is an independent group that acts in an advisory capacity to the Company. Its role is to evaluate the progress of the clinical trial, including monitoring the safety and efficacy data generated in the trial. On a regular basis, the DMC reviews study results, evaluates the incidence of adverse events, determines whether the basic trial assumptions remain valid, and evaluates whether the overall integrity, scientific merit and conduct of the study remain acceptable.

Data from the full cohort of 105 highgrade bladder cancer patients from this trial, coupled with additional safety information to be collected from a second clinical trial that is expected to start later this year, will be used to support regulatory submissions under the FDAs Accelerated Approval program.

Second Phase III Registration Trial

Bioniche is working with its new licensing partner, Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., on setting up clinical trial sites for a second registration trial that will directly compare the efficacy and safety of Urocidin with BCG in the firstline treatment of nonmuscleinvasive bladder cancer.

In September, 2007, the Company announced that an agreement had been reached with the FDA under the Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) procedure on the design of the trial, including its endpoints, data analysis and conduct. It provides assurance that, if the trial endpoints are met, they will serve as the basis for product approval under a Biologics Licensing Application (BLA). An SPA gives a clear pathway to registration of Urocidin when the trial endpoints are achieved. This indication for MCC received Fast Track designation by the FDA last year.

About Bladder Cancer

In North America, bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and in the top ten for women. In the United States, approximately 70,000 patients are newly diagnosed with bladder cancer each year. In addition, the cancers of many previouslydiagnosed patients remain unresolved, sometimes leading to cystectomy (bladder removal) or death. Approximately 70 percent of bladder cancer patients have the nonmuscleinvasive form of bladder cancer at diagnosis and, on appropriate regulatory approvals, might be eligible for multiple treatments with Urocidin.

Nonmuscleinvasive bladder cancer is a form of bladder cancer localized in the surface layers of the bladder that has not yet spread into the deeper muscle layer. This form of bladder cancer is treated predominantly by urologists using surgical resection and intravesical infusion therapy. Urocidin is an intravesical infusion therapy, administered via transurethral catheter into the bladder.

About Urocidin(TM)

Urocidin is a formulation of MCC, a sterile mycobacterial cell wallDNA complex composition that has a dual mode of action immune stimulation and direct anticancer activity. Urocidin is formulated for the treatment of bladder cancer, where it is administered by transurethral catheter directly into the bladder, coming into contact with immune system cells and bladder cancer cells. Industry Canadas Industrial Technologies Office (formerly Technology Partnerships Canada) has contributed to the development of the Companys mycobacterial cell wall technologies by means of a C$9.6 million loan that is recoupable from sales.

About Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. is a researchbased, technologydriven Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of proprietary products for human and animal health markets worldwide. The fullyintegrated company employs approximately 200 skilled personnel and has three operating divisions Human Health, Animal Health, and Food Safety. The Companys primary goal has been to develop proprietary cancer therapies supported by revenues from marketed products in human and animal health. Bioniche has been named one of the Top 50 Best Small and MediumSized Employers in Canada for 2009.

Except for historical information, this news release may contain forwardlooking statements that reflect the Companys current expectation regarding future events. These forwardlooking statements involve risk and uncertainties, which may cause, but are not limited to, changing market conditions, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the establishment of corporate alliances, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Companys ongoing quarterly and annual reporting.

Today leading mental health charity Mind has helped to redraw the boundaries in our understanding of psychiatric medication, with the launch of new book Psychiatric Drugs (1). Drawing heavily on individuals experiences, it is the first book of its kind to explore what it is like to take antidepressants and other drugs from the viewpoint of the patient, and it contains new and provocative material about peoples relationships with some of the most debated and controversial medications around.

From the launch of wonder drug Prozac in the 1980s to the scandals around sideeffects and drug trials in recent times, psychiatric drugs have been surrounded in controversy since they first came on the market. Over 60 million prescriptions are written for mental health medications every year (2), a figure that is rising year on year, with over 36 million prescriptions for antidepressants issued in 2008 alone (3). Despite their popularity with prescribers, weighing up benefits versus side effects can be a constant battle for patients shockingly, its estimated that 1.9 million people get no benefit from medication at all (4). Psychiatric Drugs aims to give professionals and patients alike an insiders view to the issues people face on a daily basis.

The author, Jim Read, whose work is informed by his own experiences of medication, said

For every person who says their lives have been ruined by psychiatric drugs there is someone who believes they have been saved by them, and many more who just dont know, and wonder what their lives would have been like without them. The prescribing and taking of psychiatric drugs is always about more than a chemical and a brain. Everyones relationship with their medication is unique and personal, and is affected by their beliefs and modified by their experience.

The inspiration for Psychiatric Drugs came after research by Mind found that many people struggle to come off medication, and can find their doctors unhelpful and unsupportive in the withdrawal process (5). This prompted debate over how much is really known about the patient experience, and the need for an inside view of how peoples lives are really affected by drug treatments.

Minds chief executive, Paul Farmer, said

Psychiatric medication and the impact it has on peoples lives is a vitally important issue for anyone who has been prescribed drug treatments, or knows someone on medication. Even within this one book there are themes that crop up again and again hope, fear, indifference, adverse affects, ignorance about coming off them, and insecurity about managing without them.

Although we know a lot about the effects of psychiatric medication, the lists of benefits and adverse effects do not describe what it is actually like to take them. This book is designed to give that insight, so patients know they are not alone, and professionals realise that for patients, coming off medication can be a tough process that is also about taking control of their own destiny.

1. Psychiatric Drugs, Mind, 2009. Published by Palgrave Macmillan. Writer and mental health consultant Jim Read was commissioned by Mind to author the book to help address lack of awareness around patient experiences of taking and coming off psychiatric medication.

2. NHS information Centre, Prescription Cost Analysis, 2008
3. NHS information Centre, Prescription Cost Analysis, 2008
4. Psychiatric Drugs, Mind, 2009

Researchers are developing a Wearable Artificial Kidney for dialysis patients, reports an upcoming paper in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). “Our vision of a technological breakthrough has materialized in the form of a Wearable Artificial Kidney, which provides continuous dialysis 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” comments Victor Gura, MD (David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA).

The device essentially a miniaturized dialysis machine, worn as a belt weighs about 10 pounds and is powered by two ninevolt batteries. Because patients dont need to be hooked up to a fullsize dialysis machine, they are free to walk, work, or sleep while undergoing continuous, gentle dialysis that more closely approximates normal kidney function.

Such a device could lead to a “paradigm change” in the treatment of dialysis patients. Despite enduring long hours on dialysis every week with major limitations in activities, diet, and other areas of life dialysis patients face high rates of hospitalization and death. The U.S. dialysis population currently exceeds 400,000, with costs of over $30 billion per year. “We believe that the Wearable Artificial Kidney will not only reduce the mortality and misery of dialysis patients, but will also result in significant reduction in the cost of providing viable health care,” says Gura.

The Wearable Artificial Kidney is successful in preliminary tests, including two studies in dialysis patients. The new study provides important information on the technical details that made these promising results possible.

“However, the longterm effect of this technology on the wellbeing of dialysis patients must be demonstrated in muchneeded clinical trials,” adds Gura. “Although successful, this is but one additional step on a long road still ahead of us to bring about a muchneeded change in the lives of this population.”

Other authors were Alexandra S. Macy, Masoud Beizai, and Carlos Ezon (Xcorporeal, Inc); and Thomas A. Golper, MD (Vanderbilt University Medical Center). Dr. Gura receives a salary from Xcorporeal, Inc.

Additionally, significant contributions to the development of this new device were made by Hans Dietrich Polaschegg, PhD, Andrew Davenport, MD, Claudio Ronco MD, Andre Kaplan, MD, and Eli Friedman, MD.

The study entitled, “Technical Breakthroughs in the Wearable Artificial Kidney (WAK),” appeared online at cjasn.asnjournals.org/ on August 20, 2009, doi 10.2215/CJN.02790409.

Source
Shari Leventhal

OmniComm Systems, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board OMCM), one of the fastest growing companies in the EDC marketplace, announced that Impax Pharmaceuticals, the brand division of Impax Laboratories, Inc., Hayward, CA, has selected the TrialMaster EDC solution for conducting a Phase III study in patients with Parkinsons Disease. “While managing a global multi site clinical trial there can be significant challenges in getting trial data when you want it and in the format that you need it,” said Suneel Gupta, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer for Impax. “The TrialMaster EDC solution provides us with an intuitive and easy to use export tool that simplifies the process. After considering multiple different EDC solutions, we selected OmniComm Systems based on its customer driven approach and reputation for delivering unparalleled service and support. Additionally, its support of industry standards has enabled us to meet our very tight corporate timelines for this important study.”

“We look forward to working with Impax to assist them in the fight to cure Parkinsons disease,” remarked Stephen Johnson, COO of OmniComm Systems. “We are honored that after an extensive evaluation, OmniComms electronic data capture solution, TrialMaster(TM), was chosen to capture and process their clinical trial data. TrialMaster(TM) will enable them to continue to make informed and strategic decisions that will be vital to their success as a company.”

About Impax Laboratories, Inc.

Impax Laboratories, Inc. is a technology based specialty pharmaceutical company applying its formulation expertise and drug delivery technology to the development of controlledrelease and specialty generics in addition to the development of branded products. Impax markets its generic products through its Global Pharmaceuticals division and markets its branded products through the Impax Pharmaceuticals division. Additionally, where strategically appropriate, Impax has developed marketing partnerships to fully leverage its technology platform. Impax Laboratories is headquartered in Hayward, California, and has a full range of capabilities in its Hayward and Philadelphia facilities.

About OmniComm

OmniComm Systems, Inc. provides customerdriven Internet solutions to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, research and medical device organizations that conduct life changing clinical trial research. OmniComms growing base of satisfied customers is a direct result of the companys commitment to deliver products and services that ensure ease of use, faster study build, ease of integration and better performance. OmniComms client intuitive pricing model allows companies that range from small, to midsize to large scale institutions to safely and efficiently capitalize on their clinical research investments. OmniComm Systems, Inc. has U.S. headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, FL and European headquarters in Bonn, Germany, with satellite offices in New Jersey, the United Kingdom, and Russia as well as sales offices throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Safe Harbor Disclaimer

Statements made by OmniComm included in this release may constitute forwardlooking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties such as the Companys ability to obtain new contracts and accurately estimate net revenues due to uncertain regulatory guidance, variability in size, scope and duration of projects, and internal issues at the sponsoring client, integration of acquisitions, competitive factors, technological development, and market demand. As a result, actual results may differ materially from any financial outlooks stated herein. Further information on potential factors that could affect the Companys financial results can be found in the Companys Reports on Form 10K and 10Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forwardlooking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Source OmniComm Systems, Inc

Oklahoma County District Judge Vicki Robertson on Tuesday struck down a state law (SB 1878) that required doctors to perform ultrasounds and provide women with detailed information about the image before performing abortions, the Washington Post reports. Robertson ruled that the law, which also included other abortionrelated measures, violated a state constitutional provision that laws address only one subject.

Although 13 states have ultrasound laws, Oklahomas was the strictest in the country, according to the Post. It required any woman seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound and listen to a description of the image in detail, including organs and extremities, even if she objected (Lydersen, Washington Post, 8/19). The law was passed in 2008 but never went into effect because of legal action (AP/Google News, 8/18).

A clinic in Tulsa, Okla., run by Nova Health System, represented by the Center for Reproductive Rights, filed the lawsuit, which claimed that the law violated the state constitutions “singlesubject” rule and infringed on womens privacy rights, violated their dignity and endangered their health (Washington Post, 8/19). The suit also said that the law was unconstitutionally vague and was not clear about what doctors should tell women (AP/Google News, 8/18).

CRR attorney Stephanie Toti said that the law could have forced the Nova clinic and two others in the state to close. “We hope this sends a message to legislatures around the country that the constitution matters,” Toti said, adding, “They cant trample on anybodys constitutional rights when passing these restrictive laws” (Washington Post, 8/19). According to Toti, the ultrasound requirement “takes away a patients choice about whether or not to view an ultrasound, and it requires physicians to provide information to their patients that the physicians do not believe is medically necessary. Its an affront to womens autonomy and decisionmaking power, and its also an intrusion to the physicianpatient relationship” (AP/Google News, 8/18).

Other provisions in the law would have required doctors to follow FDA labeling when administering medical abortion drugs. According to Toti, doctors usually have the power to prescribe the drugs offlabel, and placing such limits would counter recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. It also would have required signs in clinics telling women that they cannot be coerced into abortions, as well as protection for employees who oppose abortion (Washington Post, 8/19). In addition, the law would have prohibited wrongful life lawsuits in certain circumstances (AP/Google News, 8/18).

State Sen. Todd Lamb (R), who sponsored the bill, said that he likely will ask Oklahomas attorney general to appeal Robertsons ruling. Mike Jestes, executive director of the Oklahoma Family Policy Council, said that if the courts uphold Robertsons ruling, the various parts of the bill would be introduced as separate pieces of legislation (Washington Post, 8/19).

Teresa Collett, special assistant attorney general for Oklahoma, said that she will meet with state officials to discuss a possible appeal. She added that the law clearly states what doctors are required to tell women about the ultrasound, including the dimensions of the fetus, and the presence of any cardiac activity, arms, legs or internal organs. “Common medical practice is to require doctors to provide patients with information thats necessary for them to make informed decisions,” Collett said, adding, “We dont think abortion should be any exception” (AP/Google News, 8/18).

Elizabeth Nash, public policy associate for the Guttmacher Institute, said that antiabortionrights groups began advocating for ultrasound laws in the 1990s, when seven such laws were passed. Antiabortionrights groups have increased such efforts in recent years, Nash said, adding, “They really have come back and tried to use the issue of ultrasound to deter women from getting an abortion. Were really seeing a trend now.” According to Guttmacher, because ultrasounds are considered medically unnecessary during the first trimester, when almost 90% of abortions take place, such laws are a “veiled attempt to personify the fetus and dissuade a woman from obtaining an abortion” (Washington Post, 8/19).

Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Womens Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Womens Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.