3.27.04_Helper:

State lawmakers are debating a measure that would require the Department of Health to publish more details about abortions...

“The Department of Health already collects all of the data, but they don’t publish it,” he said. “All we’re asking is that the data they already collect be made public.”

 

“Abortion should not be treated any different than any other health practice in the state,” he said. “That’s all we’re asking for.”

If they want information on numbers of abortions by race, education level, etc., then Guttmacher already has that info.  I'm sure there are also TN-specific stats.  You can see prevalence without seeing aggregate published identifying information.  There's a reason they don't publish that kind of shits already: HIPAA.

And if you really want abortion to be treated the same as any other health practice, then you'll stop putting all kinds of fuckings additional regulations (ultrasounds) and hoops (waiting periods) on it.

And really?  Really?  Do they typically publish the addresses of doctors who perform appendectomies or heart surgeons or psychiatrists?  Is that how all other health practice really works?

EliseB0323:

I don't understand how women's names could be "inadvertently" released by the data collection they are outlining. So, for instance, in a small county, they report 2 abortions. How would that identify particular women?

the composite will be more specific.  For example-- 

race: black, number of kids: 3, age: 28, education: 4-year college, county: Smith, marital status: divorced, etc.  It starts to paint a portrait of the patient.

Oh good, a new form of slut shaming.

But Harris said the bill would not make the reporting requirements for abortion any more extensive than for other medical procedures.

“Abortion should not be treated any different than any other health practice in the state,” he said. “That’s all we’re asking for.”

Bullsh!t. If they wanted to treat it like any other health practice, they wouldn't be asking for waiting periods, forced ultrasounds, "educational" materials full of outright lies, etc. You can't have it both ways - either it's just like any other procedure or it's not. Do they also have this detailed reporting for every man that gets a vasectomy or asks his doctor for boner pills?

c_joy:

But Harris said the bill would not make the reporting requirements for abortion any more extensive than for other medical procedures.

“Abortion should not be treated any different than any other health practice in the state,” he said. “That’s all we’re asking for.”

 

Bullsh!t. If they wanted to treat it like any other health practice, they wouldn't be asking for waiting periods, forced ultrasounds, "educational" materials full of outright lies, etc. You can't have it both ways - either it's just like any other procedure or it's not. Do they also have this detailed reporting for every man that gets a vasectomy or asks his doctor for boner pills?

One of the things that disgusts me most about all of the current bills and the renewed abortion banning fervor is their attempt to disguise them as supporting women's rights.

Also, up until a few months ago I considered myself pro-life. After all the shits pro lifers are doing, I'm pretty sure I'm not one of them.

Heather R:

EliseB0323:

I don't understand how women's names could be "inadvertently" released by the data collection they are outlining. So, for instance, in a small county, they report 2 abortions. How would that identify particular women?

the composite will be more specific.  For example-- 

race: black, number of kids: 3, age: 28, education: 4-year college, county: Smith, marital status: divorced, etc.  It starts to paint a portrait of the patient.

 

 

EliseB0323:

I don't understand how women's names could be "inadvertently" released by the data collection they are outlining. So, for instance, in a small county, they report 2 abortions. How would that identify particular women?

I'm a white woman living in a rural county who has a PhD. When combined with my age, marital status, and number of children, anyone who knows me who reads that report would know it was me. I'm the only one here, I'm certain, who falls within those exact demographics. My colleague who is 40 and a Pacific Islander with no children and a PhD could likely be identified even if the data came out at the state level.

5thOfJuly:

EliseB0323:

I don't understand how women's names could be "inadvertently" released by the data collection they are outlining. So, for instance, in a small county, they report 2 abortions. How would that identify particular women?

I'm a white woman living in a rural county who has a PhD. When combined with my age, marital status, and number of children, anyone who knows me who reads that report would know it was me. I'm the only one here, I'm certain, who falls within those exact demographics. My colleague who is 40 and a Pacific Islander with no children and a PhD could likely be identified even if the data came out at the state level.

that's why I don't even see how it's legal. if you can reasonably deduce who it is from those stats (even without a name), that's PHI and violates HIPAA, right??

I have decided I am no longer shocked or appalled by any of this.  In fact I have decided to put a placard in my car that makes me easily identified and copies of my medical records to be handed out on demand.  I mean it's only a matter of time before there are check points when I travel from one town to the other.

Or, maybe a tattoo on my back with a number corresponding to my federally filled medical records...OR I KNOW a bar code tattoo and they can just scan and instantly pull them up. 

lyssbobiss:

I'm going to screen print t-shirts with my name and date of birth and the total number of sexual partners I've had in my life.

if you want welfare, you'll probably have to.

1. How is this not a violation of HIPPA?

2. The legal term for abortion is a D&C, correct?  A D&C can be performed even when a woman is not having an abortion.  My mother had to have a D&C two years ago at age 60 when she was having some fibroid/irregular bleeding/bleeding wouldn't stop issue related to menopause.  So does that mean every single woman undergoing a D&C - including those who have to have one for a miscarriage - gets placed on this list?

I never would have believed it was possible to get more disgusted over this.   

EmiIyJ:

1. How is this not a violation of HIPPA?

2. The legal term for abortion is a D&C, correct?  A D&C can be performed even when a woman is not having an abortion.  My mother had to have a D&C two years ago at age 60 when she was having some fibroid/irregular bleeding/bleeding wouldn't stop issue related to menopause.  So does that mean every single woman undergoing a D&C - including those who have to have one for a miscarriage - gets placed on this list?

I never would have believed it was possible to get more disgusted over this.   

I *think* there are different classifications of D&C. So your records can say D&C: medically indicated fibroid tumors. D&C: spontaneous abortion. But don't quote me on this. Someone else (Sibil?) probably knows better.

But I'm not denying that it's an inadvertant HIPAA violation or that it's just abhorent in general.

**sunny**:

5thOfJuly:

EliseB0323:

I don't understand how women's names could be "inadvertently" released by the data collection they are outlining. So, for instance, in a small county, they report 2 abortions. How would that identify particular women?

I'm a white woman living in a rural county who has a PhD. When combined with my age, marital status, and number of children, anyone who knows me who reads that report would know it was me. I'm the only one here, I'm certain, who falls within those exact demographics. My colleague who is 40 and a Pacific Islander with no children and a PhD could likely be identified even if the data came out at the state level.

that's why I don't even see how it's legal. if you can reasonably deduce who it is from those stats (even without a name), that's PHI and violates HIPAA, right??