February 12, 2013

FEATURED BLOG

"North Dakota's War on Women: The State's Top 5 Attacks on Women's Health So Far This Year," Tara Culp-Ressler, Center for American Progress' "ThinkProgress": "North Dakota is pulling into the lead" for "the dubious title of the very worst state for women," Culp-Ressler writes. She outlines five "serious attacks on women's health" in the state, including legislation that could close the state's only abortion clinic and a "personhood" measure that could "ban abortion, some forms of contraception, and even invitro fertilization." Lawmakers also are considering a bill that would ban abortion if a fetal heartbeat is detectable, which would "necessitate a transvaginal ultrasound -- an unnecessary, invasive procedure -- since that's the only way to detect a fetal heartbeat so early in the pregnancy," Culp-Ressler writes. She notes that abortion-rights opponents also are reportedly pressuring a university to block a grant to researchers studying a sex education program for at-risk youth (Culp-Ressler, "ThinkProgress," Center for American Progress, 2/8).

FEATURED BLOG

"Five Facts To Remember as Anti-Choice Activists Launch Attacks Against 'Webcam Abortions,'" Culp-Ressler, Center for American Progress' "ThinkProgress": "[D]espite the significant evidence to the contrary, anti-abortion lawmakers are increasingly advocating legislation to outlaw" the use of telemedicine in abortion care because they claim it is unsafe, Culp-Ressler writes. She outlines "five facts to keep in mind" in the face of these efforts, including that "[m]ost of the states that are restricting telemedical abortion consultations don't offer those service in the first place" and that restricting the services "disproportionately hurts low-income women in rural areas." Culp-Ressler also notes that abortion is the only type of telehealth service that is tightly restricted (Culp-Ressler, "ThinkProgress," Center for American Progress, 2/11).