29 February 2004

by Anai Rhoads

The United States Justice Department served the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) subpoenas Tuesday requesting all medical records from the six locations: Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Washington State. Attorney General John Ashcroft has asked that the records be turned over to the government by March 5, 2004.

PPFA believes this move is an attempt to justify incursion of patient records. The Department however, cited that this step is necessary to ensure that late-term abortion is not being performed and is not in direct violation of the law passed in November 2003 by President Bush.

"We believe that this is a sweeping invasion of medical privacy. Ashcroft has subpoenaed hundreds of confidential medical records and we're taking every step within the law to resist this," said Elizabeth Toledo, a spokeswoman for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

In addition to the order for PPFA to release sensitive documents, the Justice Department nonspecifically went through random university hospitals across the nation seeking infomation of other individuals who may have been involved in late-term abortion practices.

Scattered lawsuits surfaced summarily after Bush endorsed the law banning the procedure. Those who support this method of termination hold steadfast to the belief that in some cases late-term abortion for medical purposes is necessary in order to preserve the individual's health.

Ashcroft assured the media and public in a press conference that every precaution will be taken to safeguard the patient's information. The Department plans to "mask much of the identifying characteristics of the patients and expunge the identifying names."

©2004 Anai Rhoads. Reproduction must be authorised in writing only, and altering the material and this copyright is prohibited and protected by international law.