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Fremont Patients, Public Health Endangered By Kaiser Cutbacks In Urgent Services
TUESDAY: Dozens of Registered Nurses to March on Kaiser Permanente-Fremont to Protest Effort to Slash Urgent Care
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White House Reassures Abortion-Rights Advocates Of Sotomayor's Views On Roe
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Thursday assured abortion-rights groups that Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor shares President Obama"s views on constitutional protection for a right to privacy and a woman"s right to abortion, the Washington Post reports. Although many abortion-rights groups have welcomed the nomination, some have voiced concern over Sotomayor"s limited judicial record on cases involving abortion rights, especially the right to privacy that forms the basis for Roe v. Wade. Gibbs said that although Obama did not specifically ask Sotomayor about abortion rights during preliminary interviews, the White House is certain she agrees with the president on the constitutionality of Roe. Obama and Sotomayor "talked about the theory of constitutional interpretation, generally, including her views on unenumerated rights in the Constitution and the theory of settled law," Gibbs said, adding that Obama felt "very comfortable with her interpretation of the Constitution being similar to that of his." In a 2007 campaign debate, Obama said he would not nominate "somebody who doesn"t believe in the right to privacy," which the Supreme Court ruled gave women the right to terminate a pregnancy. Obama administration officials also said that they held private conversations on Thursday with groups on both sides of the abortion debate.The Post reports that Sotomayor has not dealt with constitutional issues regarding abortion rights in the nearly two decades she has been a federal judge. Her most notable decision regarding abortion was in 2002 when she ruled that the Bush administration had the right to implement the "global gag rule," which banned federal funding for international family planning groups that offer abortion services and information. Although that decision "reveals nothing about abortion rights," it is based on precedents from the Supreme Court and the Second U.S. Circuit of Appeals, the Post reports. Sotomayor wrote in her decision that the Supreme Court "has made clear that the government is free to favor the antiabortion position over the pro-choice position, and can do so with public funds." She also ruled that a group of antiabortion-rights protesters could go forward with a lawsuit alleging police brutality; however, that case focused on issues of municipal liability, not the constitutional right to an abortion, according to the Post.Currently, the court is essentially split on the issue of the right to privacy and abortion. Retiring Justice David Souter was one of three authors in a 2002 decision that upheld the basic tenets Roe, and abortion-rights supporters believe that replacing Souter with someone who does not support Roe would threaten those rights, the Post reports. Senior Senate Democrats said that they expect the issue to be brought up during private meetings with Sotomayor next week. However, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), a strong supporter of abortion rights, said she will not specifically ask Sotomayor about Roe. She said that she "feel[s] as comfortable as I could possibly feel" about Sotomayor"s support for abortion rights (Barnes/Shear, Washington Post, 5/29). Advocates on both sides of the abortion-rights debate are urging members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to question Sotomayor about her views during her confirmation hearings. Nancy Northup of the Center for Reproductive Rights said, "I think both sides can agree that the American people should know where its nominees to the Supreme Court stand on important constitutionally decided decisions like Roe v. Wade." Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life, said, "We"ve really been focused on asking senators to really probe this question of her judicial philosophy, as to whether or not she"s going to approach a decision like [Roe] as a jurist or as a woman" (Totenberg, "All Things Considered," NPR, 5/28). Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, said his group thinks it is "critical that senators thoroughly explore whether [Sotomayor] b
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Society Calls For Clarification Of Responsible Pharmacist Regulations
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has called for clarification of the responsible pharmacist requirements but will not be asking the Department of Health to amend the commencement date of the regulations.
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Pennsylvania Secretary Of Health Urges Pennsylvanians To Get Immunized

Department of Health Secretary Everette James stressed the importance of immunizations in observance of National Immunization Awareness Month. "Recommended vaccinations begin soon after birth and continue throughout life. Making sure you and your family are up-to-date on these immunizations is critical to protecting yourselves, your loved ones, and your communities from disease," said Secretary James. "As parents are enrolling their children in school, students are entering college, and healthcare workers are preparing for the upcoming flu season, now is the perfect time to consult with your healthcare provider and catch up on your vaccinations." The U.S. has seen dramatic reductions in vaccine-preventable diseases over the years because of the routine use of vaccines. Cases of measles, Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib), meningococcal meningitis, varicella (chicken pox), pneumococcal disease, and Hepatitis A and B occur at a fraction of what they did before vaccines were available. However, these diseases still pose threats. In the past year, increases have been reported in the number of cases of Hib, and outbreaks of measles and pertussis (whooping cough) affecting people who were either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. Vaccines not only prevent disease in people who receive them, but also protect those who come in contact with unvaccinated individuals including those who are too young to be vaccinated or individuals who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. "Immunizations are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death," James added. National Immunization Awareness Month is an annual observance to increase awareness about immunizations and encourage all age groups to learn more about recommended vaccines. To increase awareness in Pennsylvania, various regional immunization coalitions from around the state will join together and host a number of events at minor and major league baseball games during the month of August with a themed message entitled, "Cover Your Bases - Get Immunized." Pennsylvania Department of Health


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