The Justice Department's Demand for Abortion Records is an Abuse of Power

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Robert

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Representative Stark
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Robert



February 18, 2004

[recipient address was inserted here]

 [recipient name was inserted here],

As a supporter of women's rights, I am writing to express my outrage that 
the United States Justice Department is subpoenaing the medical records of 
women who have undergone certain abortion procedures.

Attorney General John Ashcroft wants to review these records in order to 
determine whether or not the dilation and extraction procedure was 
medically necessary. Apparently, the Justice Department will be 
second-guessing the decisions made by these women in consultation with 
their doctors in order to defend the so-called "Partial Birth" Abortion 
Ban in court.

This is a violation of women's privacy and could be seen as intimidation 
designed to discourage women and their doctors from choosing what might be 
the safest medical procedure for her.

Judge Charles P. Kocoras in Illinois ruled that the demand for the women's 
medical records violated state and federal privacy laws.  Kocoras wrote: 
"An emotionally charged decision will be rendered more so if the 
confidential medical records are released to the public, however redacted, 
for use in public litigation in which the patient is not even a party."

I encourage you to take the lead in calling for a Congressional inquiry 
into the Justice Department's abuse of power in this matter.

The Justice Department's prying into women's personal medical files must 
be stopped.  No woman should have to wonder whether or not the details of 
her abortion procedure will one day turn up in court as evidence.

Sincerely,

Robert