Abortion politics, ‘greedy’ docs

By Jim Saunders
04/05/11 © Health News Florida
The Senate Health Regulation Committee replayed an abortion debate Monday and dealt with turf wars that led a senator to call doctors "greedy." But it couldn't find time to listen to a stroke patient.

Here is a sample of what happened:

Abortion politics
The proposal is virtually the same as last year: Women would have to undergo ultrasounds before almost all abortions and watch them, unless they decline in writing.
The arguments on both sides were pretty much the same, too. The Health Regulation Committee showed again the deep divisions on abortion, voting 7-5 to approve a bill that mirrors a proposal vetoed last year by then-Gov. Charlie Crist.
The debate ranged from a bill supporter saying that getting an abortion "should be a gut-wrenching decision (because) the woman is about to end a life" to an opponent saying the Legislature is "playing politics with women's health.''
But some of the lawmakers took a more-philosophical approach. Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, said the ultrasound requirement is about women making an "informed decision."
"The reality is when somebody is making this decision, they should be given as much information as possible,'' Gardiner said.
Republican Sen. Jack Latvala of St. Petersburg, who said he considers himself "pro-life,'' voted against the ultrasound requirement. Latvala said he had talked about the proposal with doctors and found it overly intrusive.
"I just basically believe in the philosophy government needs to stay out of decisions like this,'' Latvala said.

Turf battles
Sen. Alan Hays' bill to place new requirements on expert witnesses in malpractice cases was already controversial enough. The Florida Medical Association and other doctor and hospital groups are lobbying for the bill, while trial lawyers are trying to kill it.
But Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, added fuel to the bill Monday when he proposed an amendment to give new drug-prescribing powers to optometrists and advanced registered nurse practitioners.
Bennett has been a longtime supporter of the increased prescribing powers, arguing the move would save money and increase access to health care. But the FMA has always successfully fought it, contending those powers should be reserved for doctors who go through medical school.

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