In an effort to prosecute two clinics that provide abortions, Kansas attorney general Phil Kline has subpoenaed the medical records of 90 women and girls. He says these records will help build a case against clinics (and presumably individual physicians) who have broken the state's laws about sexual-abuse reporting and late-term abortion.
Seattle Times reports
here.
Regardless of one's stance on abortion, the instrumental subpoena of women's (supposedly confidential) medical records -- especially in a time of increased privacy protection and regulation around health care information in general -- ought to raise concerns about privacy and civil rights.
(The very similar efforts of former US Attorney General John Ashcroft, which were intended to bring down Planned Parenthood clinics, were unsuccessful.)
Regardless of one's stance on abortion, the instrumental subpoena of women's (supposedly confidential) medical records -- especially in a time of increased privacy protection and regulation around health care information in general -- ought to raise concerns about privacy and civil rights.
(The very similar efforts of former US Attorney General John Ashcroft, which were intended to bring down Planned Parenthood clinics, were unsuccessful.)