Tucson nurse practitioner prevails in abortion vote...

[bliss_eternal]

Tucson nurse practitioner prevails in abortion vote
By Howard Fischer

Capitol Media Services
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 06.27.2008

PHOENIX — A Tucson nurse practitioner will be able to continue to perform abortions.

The state Senate fell two votes short Thursday of the 16 needed to approve a measure to require that all surgical abortions be performed only by a physician.

With the Legislature on track to adjourn for the year today, and several lawmakers absent, the chances the bill will be revived are virtually nil.

The issue arose when it became widely known that Mary Andrews, a nurse practitioner at Planned Parenthood Arizona, has been performing "aspiration abortions" at the agency's Tucson clinic since 2001.

That led to a complaint against her last year to the state Board of Nursing. The name of the person who filed the complaint is not public.

When the board did not immediately order Andrews to stop performing abortions, Rep. Bob Stump, R-Peoria, introduced House Bill 2269 to clearly restrict the practice to licensed physicians.

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excerpted from:
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/metro/245756.php

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I apologize that this story is rather dated. I just encountered it, and realized it hadn't been discussed here, so I thought I should post it.


Personally, I'm glad this brave nurse will be able to continue her work with Planned Parenthood. It's my understanding that with all the sanctions, budget cuts and right wing lunacy it's challenging to find doctors willing to provide abortive procedures at PP (and anywhere else). :(

[ismnotwasm]

1. I just read this here

I get ANA updates, a bit interesting I don't recall this story being in any of them. Nurse Practitioners fill a needed, huge area in health care in nearly every field, the attempted action was simply punitive, and wrong. I'm very glad it failed, It's especially valuable in light of all the forced birth attacks on legitimate practitioners of every type.

Now I'm curious to the laws in other states.

Edit; Crap, I don't have time for a thorough search, but it doesn't look like too many states allow NPs to provide abortions


"Legislation in California, administrative rule changes in Rhode Island, and an attorney general opinion in Connecticut and Washington have specifically established the role of these clinicians in those states providing medical abortions. In the absence of such clarification, a physician-only law could limit the ability of certified nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants to provide medical abortion care.


"Through the CFC grassroots organizing project, NAF has always supported the participation of these qualified health care professionals in various aspects of providing abortion care for which they are trained, and as permitted by state regulations. CFC works in collaboration with partner organizations to explore different strategies for expanding scope of practice in states, depending upon the legal situation. If you have a question about a particular state, please email [e-mail]. We can let you know what other work is taking place in your state so that efforts are not duplicated, and we can put you in touch with colleague organizations and CFC State Contacts working on these issues nationally"
http://www.prochoice.org/cfc/legal_practice.html


This is funny-- thought I'd toss in in here;

A donation in George Bush’s name

http://www.abortionaccess.org/content/view/165/119/