[NPInfo] Abortions

[David Mittman]

Again interesting. There was a PA who was the ONLY, repeat ONLY  
abortion provider in 3-4 states. She was based in Montana. She took a  
case to the Sumpeme Court.
Don't know what happened over the last few years.
Lawmakers may ban nurse practitioners from performing abortions

By Howard Fischer
CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 03.05.2008
PHOENIX — A House committee voted Wednesday to stop a Tucson nurse  
practitioner from performing surgical abortions.
The legislation, HB 2269, does not name Mary Andrews who works for  
Planned Parenthood Arizona. Instead, legally prohibits nurse  
practitioners from performing abortions.
The state Board of Nursing, is already reviewing a complaint against  
Andrews. It has yet to decide if she is doing anything illegal.
But Rep. Bob Stump, R-Peoria, who chairs the House Health Committee,  
said he sees no need to wait until the board makes a ruling. He said  
the issue of who gets to do what should be defined by the Legislature.
A majority of the panel agreed, voting 6-3 to send the measure to the  
full House.
At the heart of the debate is the question of whether a nurse  
practitioner is qualified to perform the procedure. While state law  
regulates nursing, the issue of what they can do generally is spelled  
out in regulations. That is particularly true of registered nurse  
practitioners who have advanced training.
Nothing in the rules specifically addresses the question of  
abortions, stating instead that these people are entitled to “perform  
therapeutic procedures that the registered nurse practitioner is  
qualified to perform.”
Michelle Steinberg, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood said her  
organization has been using a nurse practitioner for eight years  
“with fewer complications than the national average.”
Read more in tomorrow's Arizona Daily Star