LifeLines is the newsletter of the Rochester Area Right to Life Committee, Inc., Education Fund.  Older, complete issues in print are available in the Rochester office. These articles have been selected from the issue in print.  An index for this issue and previous issues  for the last couple of years is available.

Volume 29; Issue 5 March, 2001
Information and news you can use to protect and defend lives threatened by abortion and euthanasia

Following is the statement from President Bush, read by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), to the participants at the largest March for Life to date. The march has occurred annually since the first anniversary of Roe v Wade, the U. S. Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal as of January 22, 1973.

"Mexico City Policy" restored

On January 22, 1993, President Clinton nullified the policy. Exactly 8 years later, President Bush restored this policy. This prompt action ensures that this vital pro-life policy will govern funding for the entire fiscal year.

The policy requires that for funding eligibility under the U.S. population-control aid program private overseas organizations must agree not to perform abortions except to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest. The policy also requires the organizations not to "actively promote abortion as a method of family planning." This is clearly a life-saving policy.

Welcome, President Bush.

RARTL is not a member of the United Way. However, the Rochester Area Right to Life Committee, Inc. Education Fund will receive donations made to it in the United Way Campaign.

RARTL acknowledges that many United Way member organizations provide positive services in the Rochester area. Simultaneously, the RARTL Education Fund also serves a unique role in the community. Our comprehensive education program is well used by people of all ages.

See how to send your United Way donation to support RARTL Education Fund services/programs.

WELCOME PAT

We are pleased to report that the RARTL office shades are now open. We are delighted to tell you that as of February 7^th, Patricia Amato has been the Executive Director of RARTL.

Pat has worked in different roles in many places and is well versed about pro-life topics. Her knowledge, enthusiasm and skills will enable RARTL to again offer quality educational, advocacy and referral services for all people interested in current, factual information about the many aspects of abortion, euthanasia and infanticide.

Please stop in when you can and meet Pat. At the same time, take the opportunity to review our library of books and videos, pamphlets, bumper stickers and more. Pat will be able to help you find what you need and discuss the issues and our resources.

Also, Pat would be delighted to get your call or visit to ask what volunteer help she can use. There is probably just the right "job" for your talents and available time.

Euthanasia in the Netherlands

Last year, in a 104-40 vote, the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament the Netherlands formalized its’ long held tolerance of euthanasia. The bill is expected to be approved early in 2001 and become law.

Switzerland, Columbia and Belgium accept euthanasia. Australia’s Northern Territory approved the practice in 1966; the federal Parliament revoked the law in 1997.

In the Netherlands, approval in the upper chamber is considered a formality. The law applies even to children as young as 12. However children ages 12 to 15 cannot be killed without parental consent. Children 16 years of age can be killed without even consultation with the parents.

Following are the guidelines of the bill passed by the Lower House:

¨ The physician must be convinced the patient’s request is voluntary and well considered;
¨ He must be convinced the patient is facing unremitting and unbearable suffering. The patient does not have to be terminally ill;
¨ The patient must have a clear understanding of his situation;
¨ The physician must reach the conclusion, together with the patient, that there is no reasonable
alternative that is acceptable to the patient. The decision to die must be the patient’s own;
¨ The physician must consult at least one other independent doctor who has examined the patient;
¨ He must carry out the termination of life in a medically appropriate manner.
            Right to Life Educational Foundation, Inc. 12/00

Karl Gunning, M.D., founder and president of the World Federation of Doctors Who Respect Life wrote:

"If all cases in which the patient died after a decision by a doctor to hasten the end of his life are counted together, … On a total annual mortality of nearly 136,000 in Holland in 1995, in over 26,000 cases, i.e. 20% of all deaths, a doctor made the decision to shorten the patient’s life. In many of these cases, there was no request by the patient."

The above was quoted in Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. Newsletter; 1-01. The article concluded by J. C. Willke, M.D.’s report that 50% of euthanasia or assisted suicide cases in the Netherlands were done by a doctor without the patient’s knowledge or consent.

Also, from Associated Press, 7/13/00: The Holland Ministry of Justice has withdrawn a proposal to allow children as young as 12 to opt for euthanasia against the wishes of their parents. The clause had been part of a bill before parliament.

In the U.S.A.

To date, euthanasia, i.e. physician assisted suicide, is legal in the U.S. only in Oregon where voters approved it. In November, 2000, a pro-euthanasia motion on the Maine ballot was defeated.

The Dutch have had escalating costs in care for the elderly/handicapped and increased retirement expenses. Euthanasia has been seen as a solution to these problems.

The U.S. health care industry is presently waging many financial battles. This is fertile ground for thinking of euthanasia as a "solution." We must be ready to defend the ill/aged as we defend the unborn.

Hospitals ordered to provide pain relief

Pro-Life Infonet ; 1-06-01 reported on all persons’ right to have pain properly treated when entering a hospital.

Sadly, millions of Americans have suffered because pain had been often ignored or under treated. New standards, effective January, 2001, require that every patient's pain be measured regularly, beginning at check in time. Proper pain relief must then be provided. The new rules advance the quality of palliative care. The pain relief received may help reduce some patients’ desire for assisted suicide. Hospitals not following these rules will risk loss of accreditation.

Patients are now asked to rate how they feel, i.e. from zero (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable). Small children use pictures to rate pain. The score determines what steps must be taken to reduce the pain. At some hospitals, leaflets are distributed and signs posted in halls to inform patients/families about the right to pain treatment. Patients must know about the right, so they know it's OK to complain about untreated pain. Nursing homes and out-patient clinics accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) must also take the new steps. JCAHO adopted the standards a year ago but gave facilities until January, 2001 to comply.

Many centers still are scrambling to comply.

Teaching health workers who aren't pain specialists how to treat pain takes time. Many doctors inappropriately shun narcotics, a common treatment for many types types of pain, because they think patients will get addicted.

"This is not going to happen overnight," said American Pain Society president-elect Christine Miaskowski She added: "Patients are going to have to demand better care." . "Unrelieved pain has negative effects. Just like they need an antibiotic to treat infection, they need analgesics to treat their pain." But many patients don't know they don't have to suffer -- or that pain is more than bothersome, it actually hinders healing ."

So being a stoic isn't good. Revealing how much pain you're in doesn't "bother the doctors" or distract them from treating your underlying disease.

People think it’s like an 11^th commandment: "Thou has surgery; thou should have pain… if you have cancer, you must have pain," said University of Wisconsin pain specialist, June Dahl who helped write the standards.

Under treated pain has been common with cancer, i.e. about 40% of cancer patients. One in four elderly cancer patients in nursing homes received no treatment at all for daily pain. In 2000, Oregon's medical board disciplined a doctor for treating a dying cancer patient's pain with Tylenol. Outside of hospitals some 9 % of Americans suffer chronic pain, ranging from back injuries to rheumatoid arthritis. Specialists say 4 of every 10 patients with moderate to severe pain don't get adequate relief.

A big challenge is teaching non-specialists that narcotic painkillers, i.e. opiates morphine and codeine and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl -- are the mainstay for many types of pain, Dr. Portenoy said.

"Many doctors hesitate to prescribe opiates or opioids because they are heavily regulated and can be abused by addicts. Morphine and codeine, for example, come from the same poppy plant as heroin. But for people who have never abused drugs and have no history of psychological problems, hardly any become dependent on pain medicine," Miss Miaskowski said. Another complaint, heavy sedation, usually wanes in 3 to 4 days, she also said.

For more information on assisted suicide, see the Euthanasia section of http://www.prolifeinfo.org

=:-)     :-(      =:-)      :-(     =:-)     :-(     =:-)    

WARNING

"CAMPIGN FINANCE REFORM" BILLS PROPOSED THUS FAR WOULD SEVERELY LIMIT PRO-LIFE AND ALL CITIZEN LOBBYING GROUPS’ ABILITY TO LOBBY CONGRESS.

"Campaign Reform" bill (S.27)

On January 22, 201, Senators John McCain (R-Az) and Russ Feingold (D-Wi) introduced S.27, the latest version of their bill previously known as "campaign finance reform." The new 38 page bill contains numerous provisions to restrict the ability of advocacy groups to communicate with the public about the actions of public officials and to communicate with elected officials regarding pending legislation. These include pre-election restrictions on broadcast "issue ads" and other year round restrictions that apply to both print and broadcast communications.

McCain and his allies have tried to justify such restrictions. They argue that communications by citizen groups jeopardize the ability of federal politicians to "control" their "campaign messages."

Mark Salter, McCain’s chief of staff, calls both negative and positive commentaries about candidates "problems" unless controlled by the candidate. To National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), its affiliates and most national issue advocacy groups it is about control. The idea that politicians have a right to "control" the public debate that precedes an election is at odds with the core protections provided by the First Amendment.

Immediate action is not expected on S.27. As action time draws near, we will provide a detailed analysis.

"Straight Talk"?

There is another issue: i.e. the difference between practices that McCain says are corrupting, and some of the things he does or has done in the recent past. Following comes from NRLC.

1. ANONYMOUS COMMUNICATIONS: On 1-29-00, McCain said: "There were some very vicious attack ads in the last campaign, both at the national level and the Senate and congressional level.…and they were done by both sides. You know why they did it? Because they could remain anonymous.", i.e. not identify the source of the ad. CNN Inside Politics

Remember "Catholic Voter Alert," an anonymous political attack in the 2000 campaign? It was " disseminated by McCain’s campaign, with his authorization…. The automated phone message reportedly went to 40,000 households. The script contained absolutely no identifying information." McCain responded to David Gregory’s question about this "anonymous" action.

2. ISSUE ADS: Issue advocacy is public promotion of issues, e.g. ."right to life," "legalization of marijuana," etc. Early in the primary, McCain gave up his earlier proposals to restrict "issue advocacy." As late as 2/23/00 he claimed issue advocacy restrictions had been dropped because of constitutional problems.

The assurances were written on water. The McCain-Feingold bill had multiple provisions to restrict issue advocacy. In it a "contribution", limited to $5,000 per election, was "anything of value provided by a person in connection with a Federal candidate’s election," once the person or group has associated with that lawmaker or his staff. "Associated" was described: " e.g. discussion of lawmaker’s message or even use of the same vendors during any two year period." This applied to any communication to the public – print or broadcast, at any time of any year – that may be deemed "of value" to a member of Congress, "regardless of whether…[it is a]communication that expressly advocates a vote for or against a candidate." A candidate’s name need not even be mentioned.

3. RAISING MONEY FOR NON-PROFIT INTEREST GROUPS: A 1-30-01 Washington Times story, "McCain Calls for Hard Cash to Fight ‘Soft Money’ Battle" described a McCain fund raising letter by his PAC. His letter asked for a donation for support to pass legislation on how campaigns are financed. PACs are awful institutions, according to McCain, but he used his to raise money for ads/mailings focusing on his own pending legislation.

McCain seems to have no hesitation about donating money directly into a PAC he controls. Many lawmakers do not have their own PACs. Often they endorse fund raising efforts of non-profit advocacy groups holding positions with which they agree. McCain seeks to deny advocacy groups and lawmakers in agreement on issues their First Amendment right to free speech.

McCain seems to think it is corrupting for incumbent lawmakers to raise "soft money" for non-profit groups that spend part of the money in praising or criticizing other politicians. Why does he do what he opposes? Is his "straight talk" actually do as I say, not as I do?

Rochester Area Right to Life Committee, Inc. Education Fund
United Way ID Number is 1087

"Abortion destroys a human life…manslaughter"

Zogby International’s "American Values" poll asked 1,003 Americans to choose between the following:

• "abortion destroys human life and is manslaughter" or
• "abortion does not destroy human life and is not manslaughter"
  Believe 1^st statement: 51% i.e. 37% of Democrats, 67% of Republicans and 51% of Independents polled
  Believe 2^nd statement 35% i.e. 47% of Democrats, 23% of Republicans and 32% of independents polled
  7% agreed with neither statement; 6% were unsure

No gender differences showed, e.g. 37% of men and 33% of women respondents said abortion does not destroy a human life. Cybercast News Service; 1/8/01

Babies' Taste Established in the Womb

New Scientist Magazine; January 2001 reported babies acquire a taste for certain foods while still in their mother's womb. A research team from the European Centre for Taste Science in Dijon, France did the work.

They tested 24 newborn babies’ responses. Half of the mothers had eaten anise - the main flavor of aniseed - during pregnancy, and the other half had not. The infants were exposed to anise odor immediately after birth and again four days later to determine their attraction or aversion to the smell. In both cases, infants born to anise-consuming mothers turned towards the smell; those whose mothers did not eat anise either ignored it or turned away. Lead researcher Dr Benoist Schaal said the research provided the first firm scientific evidence that maternal diet can influence the food preferences of babies. He said: "The evidence in humans was largely anecdotal." Dr Schaal said the finding suggested a variety of chemical information maybe passed from the mother to the developing child. He added that it might also explain how addiction for certain substances might be passed from mother to baby in the womb

Colette Kelly, a nutrition scientist for the British Nutrition Foundation, said: "Once a baby is born the types of food its mother likes are important because she will obviously prepare them for her child too. But we cannot say for certain that what a mother eats during pregnancy has any effect on the child's tastes."

Laughter is the best medicine
Actual remarks found in patients’ charts:
:-} On the 2^nd day the knee was better and on the 3^rd day it disappeared.
:-} The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.
:-} Discharge status: Alive but without my permission.
:-} She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, until she got a divorce.
:-} The patient refused autopsy.
:-} Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.
:-} Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital
:-} She is numb from her toes down.
:-} Skin: somewhat pale but present.
:-} The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.
            From the Kingston K of C Newsletter, February, 2001

Premature baby sets world record for the earliest born

Doctors at a hospital in Abu Dhabithi, a Persian Gulf country, delivered what is claimed to be one of the world's smallest babies – at 524 grammes, half the weight of a bag of sugar. In a tricky operation, surgeons removed the mother's womb, containing the baby, to save the life of the Iraqi woman who was suffering from stomach cancer.

The infant had spent just 21 weeks and three days in his mother's womb. Doctors fed him his mother's milk through a tube from the moment he was removed.

Professor Mohammed Reda Sadaqetian, consultant and head of the paediatric department for premature children, said, "This is considered the smallest baby in the world, taking into account the number of weeks spent in his mother's womb. "Before this, the smallest child who survived was 329 grammes, but he was born after 28 weeks. "

From the day of his birth he started drinking his mother's milk through a tube. From the second day, he took nutrition through the arteries and now his growth is continuing naturally with no complications. His eyes remained closed until recently…." The infant had suffered from bleeding in the brain, which was stopped. The bleeding may have caused some mental handicaps.

Dr. Sadaqetian said that the child was prematurely delivered to save the life of the mother. "The mother was suffering from stomach cancer and we had to save her by taking out part of her intestine, and it was necessary to remove the mother's womb with the child in it. The mother's condition is very stable now."

He said it was remarkable that the baby had survived despite being in his mother's womb for only 21 weeks and three days. It was very rare for such a premature baby to survive. The 2001 Guinness Book of Records lists the world's most premature baby as James Gill of Ontario, Canada, who was 624 grammes when born 128 days premature in 1987. From: "Gulf News", The Indian Express 2-4-01 via Pro-Life Infonet; 2/5/01

Drug Maker's RU 486 Warnings Attacked Unfairly

G.D. Searle, manufactures misoprostol (brand name Cytotec), a drug used in conjunction with RU-486. Searle is now being criticized for its efforts to protect patients.

Searle, at the request of the Food and Drug Administration, revised its labeling of the drug and sent a warning letter to doctors that the drug should not be used by pregnant women. Proponents of the RU-486 abortion method, including USA TODAY, have been critical of Searle.

Misoprostol usage is a concern. The January issue of Mother Jones magazine reported the off-label use of Misoprostol to induce labor in pregnant women has resulted in 30 reported cases of uterine rupture in the past three years alone.

When misoprostol was first approved as an anti-ulcer drug, Searle stated that it was contraindicated for pregnant women. The science on which this conclusion was based has not changed, and the incidences of uterine rupture resulting from off-label use have underscored the correctness of Searle's position.

If misoprostol had not been approved by the FDA for use with the abortion drug RU-486, USA TODAY and other critics would probably be applauding Searle for its quick, responsible actions. It is only support for the RU-486-misoprostol abortion method that has prompted negative, politically driven comments regarding Searle and the "motivations" for its actions.

Instead of questioning Searle’s motives, people might better question the motives of pro-abortion groups and their sympathizers. Representatives of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists admit that risks are associated with the use of misoprostol by pregnant women Nonetheless, the organization criticized Searle because its actions "could limit the use of this new option for reproductive choice."

The FDA's campaign on behalf of RU-486 strongly indicates that it is the FDA's interest in preserving this chemical-abortion method, not women's safety, that is the controlling factor in its discussions with Searle over misoprostol labeling.

Will sound science and women's health once again fall victim to pro-abortion political pressure?

The 1/10/01 USA Today; carried the above from Laura Echevarria, National Right to Life Committee Director of Media Relations.

L "Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died"-Erma Bombeck

Partial-birth abortion/late term abortion face challenges

In June, 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court , in Stenberg v Carhart, voted 5-4 against Nebraska’s partial-birth abortion law because it placed an "undue burden" on a woman’s right to end her pregnancy. The court said the Nebraska law, similar to those in 29 other states, did not have an exemption to preserve the life of the mother.

Partial-birth abortions are incorrectly also called "late term abortions." Partial-birth abortions are not restricted to the third trimester and, in fact, are often done in the 5^th and 6^th months of pregnancy.

Banning partial-birth abortions was attempted during the Clinton presidential years. Bills banning the procedure were passed in both the House and Senate, only to be vetoed by Clinton. President Bush has said he would sign a partial-birth abortion ban.

First, however, new hurdles resulting from the Supreme Court ruling in Stenberg v Carhart must be overcome. At both state and federal levels, bills to ban partial-birth abortions will require study of the newest constitutional "obstacles." Thus GOP leadership, Bush administration and pro-life allies will need to meet, plan, and produce a new bill. To be successful, it will have to ban the partial-birth abortion procedure in a manner acceptable to Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Douglas Johnson, NRLC Legislative Director:, said "We don’t think this is going to be decided within the next couple of weeks." There will probably not be a bill to ban partial-birth abortions introduced in either Washington or state capitols early in the the 2001 – 3 legislative session.

Meanwhile, we must keep reminding family, friends, and all who will listen. Partial-birth abortion involves partially removing the unborn child, feet first, through the birth canal, cutting the skull, draining its contents and thus creating a dead baby

Oratorical contest

High school Juniors and Seniors are invited to participate in the oratoricals. First contests are held locally, with one participant sent to compete at the state level. There, the person will be identified to represent New York at the National Oratorical Contest on June 30, 2001 in Charlotte, North Carolina ^..

Contestants are asked to research, write and then present a 5 – 7 minute speech on Abortion or Euthanasia or Infanticide. Local winner will receive all expenses paid for the trip to compete in Albany on May 12^th. Winner of the state contest will receive a cash prize and all expenses paid for the trip to the National competition on June 30th.

For more information and contest application forms, call the RARTL office at 716-621-4690.

We are grateful for whatever financial support you give to the 2001 United Way Campaign to support our pro-life work

To make your gift to RARTL Education Fund:

1. Ask the United Way Coordinator at your work place for a 2001 United Way Donor Designation Form. (The United Way Pledge Form is routinely distributed but you must ask to also obtain the 2001 United Way Donor Designation Form)
2. Select Choice #4 on the 2001 United Way Donor Designation Form
3. Enter the amount of the gift you will give to Rochester Area Right to Life Committee, Inc. Education Fund, #1087
4. Sign and return the 2001 United Way Donor Designation Form and your United Way Pledge Form to your Coordinator

Please clip and refer to this form when the campaign begins.
Thank you very much for your generous support.

Please become a prayer partner by spending 5-10 minutes daily in prayer about life issues. We hope this partnership will fill 24 hours of each day to have a prayer shield over the area. Please join in the following suggested weekly prayer themes that

March 4 -  Our nation will recognize the great costs of losing children through abortion
March 11 - Those providing care to the ill and aged are given continuing strength in their responsiveness
March 18 - Those in the abortion industry will have pro-life conversions in their hearts and minds
March 25 -  Spring’s coming remind us of the gift of life
April 1 - Each handicapped and aged receive from us love of each of them for the unique person each is
April 8 - We cherish life as we celebrate holy days and a holy week
April 15 - We take time with the dying to reassure them of the love of our Creator
April 22 - We do all we can to help troubled women bring their babies to birth
April 29 - Research that destroys life is not permitted

Office hours through the end of February:
Wednesday & Friday 7:30 – 10:45 AM and Thursdays 8 AM o 4:30 PM.

Beginning March 1: the office will be open from 8 AM to 4 PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  Always good to call before coming: (716)621-4690

InMemoriam Stanley Gutowski John Edwin Leary	In Prayer Sue DiCesare Betsy Larson Robert Roeding Mary Studier
In Thanksgiving to Our Lady of Guadalupe for her gracious intercession Anonymous Donor

Want to do a RARTL MEMORIAL/HONOR TRIBUTE? You are most welcome to remember a deceased loved one by making a memorial contribution to the Rochester Area Right to Life Committee Education Fund. Your tax-deductible contribution can also commemorate birthdays, new arrivals, or other special occasions.

A card in your name will be sent to the family/person you designate. The contribution amount is confidential.

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Life-Lines
Official Publication: Rochester Area Right to Life Committee, Inc. Education Fund
A non-profit organization
675 Ling Road, Suite 3 -      Rochester, New York 14612 -       (716) 621-4690
Fax: (716) 621-6966 e-mail: alleblanc@compuserve.com       www.righttoliferoch.org
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