Friday, Sept 30, 2011  --  "Roe v. Wade" in Mexico averted by one vote

Expansion of abortion in Mexico has been averted by one vote on the Mexican Supreme Court.  A few years ago the Mexican Supreme Court allowed the state comprised of Mexico City to legalize abortion.  In response, 17 other states within Mexico have adopted constitutional amendments that protect unborn children from abortion.

Two of those amendments were challenged in court.  The Mexican Supreme Court needed 8 out of 11 justices to vote to reject those amendments for them to be overturned.   With four justices voting for the constitutionality of these amendments, they remain in place, and babies in the womb are still protected in Mexico outside of Mexico City.  The concern now is potential changes on the court that could lead to finding that tragic and deadly eighth vote.

Thursday, Sept 29, 2011  --  Dangers of RU-486 revisited: latest FDA report

Concerns about the dangers posed by the RU-486 abortion pill existed before it received FDA approval during the Clinton administration.  After that approval, these dangers appeared, as serious complications and even death occurred among mothers who used this chemical abortion method.

The latest FDA report, released in July 2011 reveals that 14 U.S. women have died after taking RU-486 and a total of 2,207 reported adverse effects after using the drug.  Of the women experiencing medical and physical problems resulting from the RU-486, 612 women required hospitalizations, 339 experienced blood loss significant enough to require a transfusion, 256 experienced infections, and 48 women experienced “severe infections.”

These known complications are likely under-reported, especially given the "telemed" procedure established by Planned Parenthood in a number of states, which does not provide medical follow-up on women after they have taken RU-486.   Statistics from Iowa, where over 2200 telemed abortions have been committed, almost confirm the existence of under-reporting, given that Planned Parenthood is reporting virtually no RU-486 complications there, clearly inconsistent with reality.

Wednesday, Sept 28, 2011  --  Congressional hearing pending on Planned Parenthood

When an organization gets over $363,000,000 in government funding per year, most of it originating from the Federal government, might it be appropriate for Congress to investigate how that money is being used?  Given recent news about potential abuses that include misuse of funds, overbilling the government, violation of mandated reporting laws, and aiding sex traffickers, there is even more reason to investigate Planned Parenthood.

Finally, U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, of Florida, has taken steps to conduct such an investigation through the House Committee on Energy and Commerce by seeking to examine the institutional practices and policies of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and its affiliates, and its handing of federal funding.  

In a letter to Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, Stearns explains, “That Committee has questions about the politics in place and actions undertaken by PPFA and its affiliates relating to its use of federal funding and its compliance with federal restrictions on the funding of abortion.”

Stearns has delayed the date of the hearing to allow PPFA time to provide audit reports with detail about how much PPFA and each affiliate expended and received in Title XIX Medicaid funding, Title X family planning, and any other federal funding from 1998 to 2010.  The hearing is expected to proceed later this month.

Tuesday, Sept 27, 2011  --  More progress occurring with adult stem cells

Researchers have tested an approach using cells are taken from a patient’s own bone marrow and differentiated in the lab into astrocytes, cells responsible for nurturing neurons in the brain.  These adult stem cells protect and preserve brain cell function and have been shown to play a key role in reducing the progress of ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), a debilitating disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons, resulting in paralysis of a patient’s limbs and organ function.

Using stem cells derived from a patient’s own bone marrow, this treatment is now being used in a clinical trial at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center, and an agreement has recently been achieved  to expand clinical trials to Massachusetts General Hospital in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

At the beginning of human life, nearly 40% of premature births are caused by a rupture in the "bag of waters," the membrane surrounding the baby in the womb, triggering premature labor.  A research team from the Reading School of Pharmacy in England has successfully developed sac membrane in the lab using stem cells from placentas obtained after births.  They have created a ‘repair’ patch designed to be placed over the rupture using keyhole surgery.  If steps continue as planned, human trials could start within two years and the treatment could be introduced by 2016.

The common thread to these exciting developments using adult stem cells to establish state-of-the-art medical treatments is that they originate outside of the USA.  Is there so much focus here on unethical and ineffective research using embryonic stem cells that other nations are finding impressive new treatments while there is nothing to show for research expenditures here?

Monday, Sept 26, 2011  --  "180" movie shows powerful approach to convert minds

The movie "180" is named to reflect the complete reversal of position on abortion that is shown by one person after another.  This movie is a triple play.   It shows actual conversions on the screen.  It converts people who watch it and witness those conversions.  Finally, it empowers viewers to follow its example to achieve conversions themselves.  This documentary is available for online viewing at www.180movie.com.

Ray Comfort began his effort by discussing the Nazi Holocaust.  Most agreed that they could not help the Nazis kill Jewish people, even though it was legal under Hitler's laws.  When he switched to abortion, he found a different attitude.  He asked them to complete this sentence: "It's OK to kill a baby in the womb, when ..."   They had trouble doing so. 

He then noted the inconsistency of taking a position against killing Jews legally, but accepting the killing of children in the womb legally.  Many recognized the problem with their position on abortion and made a 180 turn to a Pro-Life position.  Watch "180" and see for yourself.

Thursday, Sept 22, 2011  --  What IVF and surrogate motherhood have led us to

Why would anyone think that having a baby through in vitro fertilization (IVF) could be a bad thing?  Isn't having babies Pro-Life?  Unfortunately, IVF is not that simple, because it begins with fertilizing a number of eggs and then determining which embryos appear healthy.  Disposal of the unhealthy embryos become the first "selective reduction" that often occurs without the parents' knowledge.

The options created by IVF have led to other deadly practices.  The selective reduction of embryos found to be unhealthy has expanded to the selective reduction of multiples in the womb to fewer or even to one baby allowed to live.  Reducing twins to single births is now becoming common. 

IVF has also produced surrogate motherhood.  What happens when the surrogate mother is found to be carrying a child with Down syndrome?  She gets paid to abort the baby, because the parents-to-be do not want this defective child.  

No matter how narrow or wide you take the practice of IVF, it is a deadly business from start to finish and gets deadlier as more abuses are added for the convenience of the parents-to-be, including made-to-order babies, sex selection, etc.

Wednesday, Sept 21, 2011  --  Analysis of office locations confirms PP targets minorities

The philosophy reflected in the writings and publications of Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger reveals a goal to target minorities for abortion, but Planned Parenthood continues to deny this is their goal, even with an apparent concentration of offices in minority areas.

Recently, Life Dynamics president Mark Crutcher has had a survey performed of all U.S. ZIP codes where Planned Parenthood clinics are located in the United States.  This survey reveals that most are located in areas with a minority population significantly higher than the state average.

Michael New, a political scientist and assistant professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, noted that Crutcher’s report did “a thorough job” proving the high concentration of family planning clinics in minority neighborhoods, and debunking the Guttmacher Institute’s claims to the contrary.

Tuesday, Sept 20, 2011  --  New stem cell option further devalues embryonic stem cells

The attraction of embryonic stem cells has been the characteristic of pluripotency, meaning the ability of cells to become most, or even all, of the cell types in the body.   Pluripotency has motivated many research scientists to ignore adult stem cells because they want a more flexible source of cell types.  Other scientists have already found techniques to convert adult cells back to pluripotent cells.

Now an article called “Skipping Pluripotency” explains a new reprogramming technique that can convert adult stem cells (e.g. skin cells) to other specialized cells directly, eliminating any need to begin with pluripotent cells.   This approach confirms that killing embryos to obtain their stem cells is not necessary.

“Skipping pluripotency provides you the opportunity to avoid any possible tumorigenic source of cells,” says molecular biologist Vania Broccoli of the Stem Cells and Neurogenesis Unit at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Italy. “We believe that we are providing now a new source of cells which have an improved potential for these treatments and can be translated in the human systems.”

With these results, the push to produce more embryonic stem cell lnes for research becomes that much less compelling, even before considering the unethical nature of how those embryonic stem cell lnes are obtained.

Monday, Sept 19, 2011  --  IRLC radio messages begin playing on WIND 560 AM radio

Beginning today, IRLC has radio messages playing on WIND 560 AM radio (in addition to WIND streaming which will continue).  These IRLC messages are expected to play weekdays with three played each day.  If you want to check them out, you can find all of them at:

IRLC radio messages

Friday, Sept 16, 2011  --  Regulations for abortion facilities having an impact

Though the violation of basic medical standards by abortion facilities has been occurring for many years, some of the recent outrageous violations have finally lead to enforcement of existing laws and enactment of new ones.  Both steps are beginning to make an impact.

On 9/6/11 the Associated Press reported that the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals issued an order closing the Gentilly Medical Clinic for Women abortion business after initially revoking its medical license on May 25, after a probe found repeated health and safety violations putting women’s health at risk.

On 9/15/11 the Virginia Board of Health approved new emergency regulations that could shut down abortion facilities across the state.  After four hours of debate, the board voted 12-1 to pass regulations that will require the state’s abortion facilities to implement safety standards comparable to hospitals. 

After final approval by their Pro-Life governor, these regulations will take effect on 1/1/12.  Abortion advocates have complained that as many as 17 out of 21 Virginia abortion facilities could shut down over the cost of implementing these regulations.

Even in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Public Health inspected the Northen Illinois Women’s Clinic abortion facility in Rockford in August 2011 and found health violations that could lead to suspension of their license if not resolved before a follow-up inspection. 

Thursday, Sept 15, 2011  --  Patent reform law includes a Pro-Life provision

Without much fanfare, and certainly no coverage from the "mainstream" media, Congress has passed an important Pro-Life provision as part of the reform of U.S. patent law that was given final approval by Congress today and is expected to be signed by President Obama tomorrow [he did sign it into law on 9/16/11].

The Pro-Life rider included in the law states, “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no patent may issue on a claim directed to or encompassing a human organism.”  The ban “shall apply to any application for patent that is pending on, or filed on or after, the date of enactment.”

Family Research Council president Tony Perkins observed, “Passage of the ban on patenting human organisms as part of patent reform is a huge victory for the idea that all human lives, even those of the youngest among us, are valuable and should not be viewed as property.  The Patent Office had a policy of rejecting patents on human embryos, and in previous years the Weldon language helped give legal weight to that policy while some scientists wanted to gain a property right on genetically altered humans.”  Now that protection is incorporated into standing law, versus the Weldon Amendment that needed to be attached to an appropriations bill each year.

Monday, Sept 12, 2011  --  Negative assessment of disabled baby was wrong

How can parents handle a negative diagnosis about their developing baby in the womb?   Many parents report strong pressure to abort such children.  This pressure is very strong when the diagnosis is Trisomy 18.

Bernadette and Phil, located in Grandville, Michigan, already had seven children, when they received a diagnosis of Trisomy 18 for their eighth child.  A specialist described a grim outlook where their baby would either die during the pregnancy or would die shortly after birth.  Even with the warnings and the pressure, they kept their resolve not to abort their baby.

Hannah did not die at birth.  Now, four years later, Hannah is a joy and constantly laughing.  Though Hannah has had several problems, including a hole in her heart that eventually healed and difficulty walking and talking on her own, but she’s a smart little girl who is most definitely alive.  “Everything they said turned out wrong,” Bernadette said. “What if I had an abortion?”

Friday, Sept 9, 2011  --  Doctor follows his instinct rather than his medical training

Stories continue appearing about cases where doctors say its time to "end life support" because there is no chance of recovery.  The organ donation team is just around the corner waiting for the end so "at least lives can be saved from this tragic case."  But what if there really is still hope?

While touring on mopeds with her husband and two sons in Hawaii, Shelli Eldredge had a terrible accident that caused her spine to be broken in numerous places, her pelvis to be shattered, and her skull and facial bones to be fractured.  Her legs and hips were also severely disfigured.

After being taken to a Hawaii hospital, Shelli quickly slipped into a coma.  Even though Shelli’s husband, Stephen, a doctor himself, thought it was “pretty apparent that she wasn’t going to wake up,” he decided to give her some more time and to “move forward at all costs.”

Stephen noted, “The brain injury and the testing that demonstrated a loss of typical brain architecture was not consistent or compatible with life or return of function. It was very disheartening to face the [...] likely possibility of her never being able to wake up or function.”

But Stephen recalled how one day, when Shelli was a few weeks into the coma, he walked over to her side and was amazed to discover that she “tracked” him with her eyes. “She actually followed my path.” Another day, Stephen told her a joke and recalled with delight how Shelli “laughed.”

Within days of this turn of events Shelli began to show distinct signs of reviving, such as moving her body and speaking.  Shelli continued her recovery and has returned to her home in Utah where her family is helping her in reaching her goal of full recovery.   For now, Shelli, needs a wheelchair to get around.

The gift of extra time was what Shelli needed for a sequence of events to unfold that Stephen says defies medical justification.  Nancy Valko, a Registered Nurse asked, “How many other patients have died or become non-heartbeating organ donors before given a similar chance?”

Wednesday, Sept 7, 2011  --  Enhancing NFP through fertility software

Natural Family Planning (NFP) offers both healthy and moral choices compared to contraception, but it does take some training to keep track of the body's indicators that make NFP effective.  That effort can now be reduced through use of a new software product.

The FertileView software (from Novuscor) handles the interpretation portion of fertility monitoring. Users only need to be trained in fertility observation. They can enter the information into the program and don’t have to use the charting system taught in the traditional natural family planning class.  Using the FertileView software allows training time to be cut to 45-50 minutes.

Tim Boh, owner of Novuscor, explained that FertileView captures biomedical data for each user and creates an individual cycle program for each woman. The more she uses FertileView, the more data is compiled about her cycle.  The software pinpoints a woman’s ovulation and predicts the best time to achieve pregnancy, helping to address fertility issues.

Tuesday, Sept 6, 2011  --  South Dakota informed consent law upheld on appeal

South Dakota has one abortion clinic run by Planned Parenthood.  Naturally, when an expanded informed consent law was passed in 2005, Planned Parenthood went to court to block it.  They have delayed the law for six years, but recently lost their case on appeal.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit upheld the majority of South Dakota’s informed consent law, including a requirement that doctors inform pregnant women that they have “an existing relationship” with an “unborn human being.” A lower court ruling had struck down that provision because the judge concluded that preborn children are not “persons.”

Unfortunately, the appeals court still rejected a provision requiring a warning about the risk of suicide, but Planned Parenthood did not even challenge the provision about documented risks of depression, so that stipulation remains in the law.  Once the law takes effect, the new question will be how Planned Parenthood attempts to evade the law.  

No informed consent bill has even come close to passage in Illinois, so women seeking abortion only hear the sales pitch that the abortion provider uses to sell the abortion.   How long will it be before women get even a small amount of protection in Illinois?

Friday, Sept 2, 2011  --  The facts dispute the "science" of abortion advocates (again)

Abortion advocates always claim that science supports their position, but notice how few research results they cite, and usually those they do cite are subject to serious criticism for shoddy science.  This unscientific science fully applies to their claims that abortion is safe and that maternal mortality is high when abortion is illegal.

A new study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry by American researcher Dr. Priscilla Coleman of Bowling Green State University finds that women who have an abortion face almost double the risk of mental health problems compared to women who have their baby.  The peer-reviewed study found abortion was linked with a 34% chance of anxiety disorders, 37% higher possibility of depression, 110% increased risk of alcohol abuse, three times greater risk of marijuana use (220%), and 155% greater risk of trying to commit suicide.  This result is just the latest of many studies that dispute claims that abortion is safe.

Meanwhile, researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle found that the maternal mortality rate dropped 81% in the Philippines between 1980 and 2008.  Since abortion is banned in the Philippines, this decrease contradicts the pro-abortion claim that more women will die from illegal abortions and increased maternal mortality when abortion is prohibited.

The claims of abortion advocates to justify their push to legalize abortion anywhere it remains illegal cannot find any scientific support, but that does not prevent them from claiming that defenders of life are pushing an agenda that rejects science.  As usual, they accuse their opponents of doing what they in fact are doing.

Thursday, Sept 1, 2011  --  Another insider reveals details about Planned Parenthood

Ramona Trevino was the manager of the Planned Parenthood location in Sherman Texas until she quit on May 6, 2011.  Ramona followed the example set by Abby Johnson and made an act of faith to leave this abortion industry leader without knowing where her life would be heading next.

In reflecting on why she decided to leave, Ramona revealed some details about her experience with the approach taken by Planned Parenthood.  She began to question Planned Parenthood’s dedication to its purported mission of helping women after she was continually urged to increase the number of patients her clinic saw with existing staff levels, and to increase revenue. 

“That was one of those things where I began to see that they don’t care about these women, they care about money,” she says. “The more women they can pack in the schedule, the more money they can bring in, the more people they can put on birth control and sell birth control to, whatever services we can sell, that’s what they care about.”

Ramona was very troubled when Lila Rose and Live Action released undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood managers helping purported child sex traffickers get abortions and other services for their underage prostitutes.  After those videos were released, a meeting for all the regional Planned Parenthood managers was called.  Ramona says she expected the meeting to be about how to spot situations of abuse or sex trafficking, but instead it was all about how to detect if you are being recorded or might be the victim of a sting operation. 

Is that the training that Planned Parenthood promised as a response to the finding of their employees' willingness to assist sex traffickers?  Even in response to a question from Ramona about procedures to follow if a real sex trafficker was encountered, there was no attempt to address the underlying issue.  That result seems to confirm a lack of concern about that issue, but rather simply a focus on the issue of how to avoid being caught.