Paul A. Byrne, M.D.
August 14, 2017

Doctors and nurses protect and preserve life. Anything that does not protect and preserve life cannot rightly be called medical treatment and care. Much is written about end of life but not distinguished from ENDING life.

Charlie Gard is a baby who was discussed at the kitchen table, restaurant, supermarket, and in ethical/bioethical writings. Charlie Gard’s condition was diagnosed as mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, which resulted in decreased muscle activity and movement. Charlie Gard had a breathing tube put into his windpipe which was connected to a ventilator months before his situation was publicized. When a patient is on a ventilator with breathing tube in his windpipe [via the mouth or nose (endotracheal tube – ET tube) for about two weeks, it is factual that a tracheostomy ought to be done. This was not done for Charlie. At that point, the die was cast for Charlie to be on an endotracheal tube in an intensive care unit (ICU) for the rest of his life. The rest of the time and efforts that were spent legally were useless because the doctors never intended to treat Charlie in a way that he could go home. Why would anyone believe that the doctors would change their position when it was court time?

Who should make decisions for Charlie since he is an infant? His parents, who wanted Charlie to live as long as Charlie could live. Tracheostomy was not done, thus someone is responsible for making this decision not to do a tracheostomy.

Parents went to court seeking legal support for continued treatment of Charlie. Known or not known to parents (and most everyone reading, seeing or hearing about Charlie), a tracheostomy was necessary to get Charlie out of the ICU. A doctor trained to do a tracheostomy was necessary. However, was such doctor even consulted? Even if they were consulted, their response was not publicized.

When the decision was made by the American consulting neurologist not to use an experimental medication, the Court supported the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) physicians to remove the ventilator and the endotracheal tube. No one, with or without mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, after being on a ventilator for 8 months would be expected to survive abrupt stoppage of the ventilator and removal of the endotracheal tube, especially without a tracheostomy. Thus, the doctors established months earlier when a tracheostomy was omitted, that they never intended to allow Charlie to be out of the ICU. Hospice finalized and executed removal of the ET tube and stopped the ventilator. Charlie was dead shortly after the ET tube and ventilator were removed.

The issue of the ventilator being an ordinary or extraordinary means of treatment was discussed in the writings about Charlie. The ventilator did not involve any great burden for Charlie or anyone else. Donations were reported to be more than a million Euros. Thus, the ventilator was not excessively burdensome or too expensive. This teaching of Pope Pius XII is quoted often: "Normally one is held to use only ordinary means . . . that is to say, means that do not involve any grave burden for oneself or another." From the same document, the teaching that is often left out is, "On the other hand, one is not forbidden to take more than the strictly necessary steps to preserve life and health, as long as he does not fail in some more serious duty." Charlie’s parents, however, were forbidden from taking Charlie out of the ICU to their home. The wishes and directions of Charlie’s parents never had a chance.

In the consideration of ordinary/extraordinary means, the understanding of the words is of paramount importance. Over many years as medicine improved in its ability to treat patients with more successful and less painful procedures, the use of the terms remained quite unchanged. Moralists are quoted who lived before pain was controllable. St. Augustine wrote about a hemorrhoid operation using four strong men to hold the patient immobile as the operation was performed. The pain was noted as the patient suffered the operation. During the Civil War, the primitive state of medical practice contributed to many deaths and many more with injuries. The analysis of ordinary/ extraordinary means received its description from those times and the available pain relief.

Now, warnings are given lest treatment of patients would cause patients to live longer because of what some say are overzealous and beyond reasonable limits. Relief of pain and treatments are far advanced during modern times.

Considerations of ordinary and extraordinary means require understanding the person being treated and the means utilized to treat in accord with the quality and the sanctity of life. Ordinary treatments and care that protect and preserve life without being too burdensome, too expensive, or too whatever that are not beyond the capability of the ordinary person are obligatory. Think of what care an infant requires to live; that is what any person regardless of age, illness or disability should be entitled to as ordinary means.

When a person has an extraordinary illness and there is an extraordinary treatment available and the patient desires to be treated to live longer, even if cure seems not to be possible, the patient’s desire for the treatment is instruction for the physician to get on with the treatment.

Life, Life Support and Death, available from American Life League, includes: "No one should be deprived of basic care, including food and water, suitable bedding, an optimal thermal environment, an unobstructed airway, exits for stool and urine, and effective treatments, medications, procedures and operations. A hospital exists to diagnose and treat ill patients. While not every illness can be cured, every patient must be cared for. The object is always to provide the best medical care to the whole person, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. To purposefully expedite death by omission or commission violates a fundamental principle of medicine: "First, do no harm." Recognizing that every patient must be cared for, a hospital cooperates with other facilities and services as well as the patient’s family to deliver the best care possible to the patient.

"Decisions to use or not to use a particular medical evaluation, treatment, medication, procedure or operation are considered from the patient’s perspective in light of the ability, skill and availability of physicians, nurses and medical personnel. Many articles have been written and much discussion has occurred about what constitutes means that are labeled as "ordinary" or "extraordinary." Ordinary treatments and care are done to protect, to aid, and to heal. When the person has an extraordinary illness, extraordinary treatments that are available and effective are done to preserve life and to enhance the quality and sanctity of life.

"The chief thing for a man’s life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to cover shame" (Ecclus. 29:27). Ordinary means include any evaluation, treatment, medication, procedure and operation that protect and preserve life. They include provision of water, food, suitable bedding, an optimal thermal environment, an unobstructed airway, exits for stool and urine and effective treatments, medications, procedures and operations. Those that are available and will protect and preserve life ought to be desired by the patient and provided by the physician and medical personnel. Medical personnel have an obligation to use such means in the treatment of the patient. To use ordinary means carries out the obligation to maintain existence, and to preserve the ability to fulfill duties to self, family, civil government and to God.

"Using ordinary means shows respect for the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, as set forth in the Declaration of Independence:

• We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. – That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

"Liberty is the inalienable right of every person. The origin of the word, liberty, is from the Latin, liberum arbitrium. This is translated as "mastery over desires." Liberty is the right to safeguard life and thus guarantee the ability to pursue one’s destiny to do good and avoid evil. Accordingly, when the means touch on a person’s liberty, their denial could infringe his inalienable rights. The patient lies at the heart of every medical procedure.

"When it comes to deciding whether a particular medical means is "ordinary," the key is an honest and realistic assessment of whether, ‘according to circumstances of persons, place, times, and culture,’ the means ‘do not involve any grave burden for oneself or another.’ Honesty and reality require that we recognize that what was beyond ordinary in a past, less affluent society, is very ordinary today. What was beyond financial capability in the past is now often available through insurance, government resources and charity. Travel to available medical treatment and care is now readily obtainable. Medications and procedures now exist to help eliminate the painful and debilitating side effects of treatments for serious illnesses and diseases.

"Unfortunately, patients’ medical decision-making today is being clouded by error and confusion in the assessment of "ordinary." Patients are allowed to reject otherwise ordinary treatment and care because their lives are considered burdensome; "burdensome treatment" has become "burdensome life" with the result of shortening life, hastening death. When a patient’s life is considered burdensome, everything is open to interpretation as beyond ordinary, even water and nourishment.

"The ventilator, commonly but less properly called a respirator, is a device that is used to move air with oxygen into a patient. Ventilation is movement of air, while respiration is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. This exchange occurs in the lungs, as well as in the living tissues throughout the body via circulation. The living lungs and chest wall store energy during inhalation that is used to move air with carbon dioxide out of the patient during exhalation. Ventilation and respiration are essential requirements for life on earth to continue. When these are supported using a ventilator, such use protects and preserves life. Often a ventilator is life-saving and life-supporting. When the use of a ventilator allows a patient to be more comfortable, it should be continued. When a patient is dependent on a ventilator for life on earth to continue, the ventilator ought to be continued. Treatment with an endotracheal tube and ventilator outside an ICU (e.g., hospital ward, long-term care facility, or even home) requires a tracheostomy. [A few edits of original have been inserted by Paul A. Byrne, M.D. into this paragraph.]

"In order to avoid immoral and erroneous medical decision-making, concentration ought to be on protecting and preserving life as long as God wills. Such focus should promote clear, honest, realistic and moral determinations about the proper use of medical treatments and care." Was this made available to Charlie Gard by doctors responsible for his treatment and care?

___________________________________
Dr. Paul A. Byrne is a Board Certified Neonatologist and Pediatrician. He is the Founder of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center in St. Louis, MO. He is Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at University of Toledo, College of Medicine. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Fellowship of Catholic Scholars.

Dr. Byrne is past-President of the Catholic Medical Association (USA), formerly Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO and Creighton University in Omaha, NE. He was Professor of Pediatrics and Chairman of the Pediatric Department at Oral Roberts University School of Medicine and Chairman of the Ethics Committee of the City of Faith Medical and Research Center in Tulsa, OK. He is author and producer of the film "Continuum of Life" and author of the books "Life, Life Support and Death," "Beyond Brain Death," and "Is ‘Brain Death’ True Death?"

Dr. Byrne has presented testimony on "life issues" to nine state legislatures beginning in 1967. He opposed Dr. Kevorkian on the television program "Cross-Fire." He has been interviewed on Good Morning America, public television in Japan and participated in the British Broadcasting Corporation Documentary "Are the Donors Really Dead?" Dr. Byrne has authored articles against euthanasia, abortion, and "brain death" in medical journals, law literature and lay press.

Paul was married to Shirley for forty-eight years until she entered her eternal reward on Christmas 2005. They are the proud parents of twelve children and have thirty-five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

© Copyright 2017 by Paul A. Byrne, M.D.
http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/byrne/170814

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California Right to Life Committee, Inc.
2977 Ygnacio Valley Rd #243, Walnut Creek, Ca 94598
(925) 899-3064
http://www.callifeadvocates.org/blog

August 11. 2017, Walnut Creek, Ca.  Euthanasia, by any other name, such as assisted suicide, palliative care, planned health care, Polst or death with dignity is still the same; the planned ending of one’s life by a 3^rd party, time certain, for the convenience of the family, the bottom line of the health care industry or society in general.

How is this happening in our country?  It’s happening through legislation and legislatively appropriated tax funding of agencies who comply with the legislation and church and community organization groups who are promoting what they refer to as compassionately arranged deaths of persons 18 and over who are ill, handicapped, have a terminal condition or who might have  such in the future.

You may recall that abortion started out with Roe v Wade and Doe V Bolton court decisions, as only for the very serious cases of disability of the baby or life of the mother but is now available to anyone for any reason or no reason. It will eventually result in active euthanasia for all.  Repealing and Replacing the Affordable Care Act might help stop its progress, though.

The language of health care and its legislation is becoming quite subtle with a vocabulary of its own.

Terms to keep in mind:

1. Palliative Care: originally intended as delivery of drugs for relief of pain or restlessness or panic in the final stages of life.
2. But now expanded for usage in earlier stages of illness as a prevention of any of these situations.
3. Palliation Produces a diminished capacity in patient to be involved in his/her own care decisions, loss of appetite and interest in surroundings.
4. Hospice Care:  originally intended for those patients in the last 6 months or less of life. Now being expanded to non-immediately terminal patients.

Here are four (4) bills dealing with end of life care. 

SB294, Ed Hernandez (D) Hospices: Palliative Care.

1. Expands definitions of palliative care, skilled nursing and serious illness.  Authorizes  Hospices to receive patients in earlier stages of terminal illness who would be administered both palliation drugs and curative drugs and treatment.  These two types of treatment are opposites, sapping the energy and awareness of a still vibrant patient.
2. Location:  Sent to the Governor than taken back for further negotiations between the Dept of Pubic Health and the legislators. When negotiations complete bill will return to Asm Appropriations Committee for acceptance and then on to the Governor.  No information is available as to changes.

This is a rare And concerning  situation.

 AB937, Susan Eggman, Health Care Decisions: Order of Priority.

1. This is directed at the patient authorized Health Care Directive Agent including the signatories on the POLST form.
2. It relieves the medical personnel from the responsibility of locating the designated health care Directive agent and, accepting alternate agents.
3. Specifies that this bill does not create or expand any existing duty to locate an individual’s health care instruction.
4. Location:  Bill has become a two year bill upon its failure to pass to the Governor during the first year of the two year term.

SB219, Scott Wiener (D-S.F) Long-term Care Facilities: Rights of Residents.

1. Enacts the Senior LGBTQ Citizens Long-Term Care Facility Bill of Rights. The bill seeks protected status for those patients who perceive that they are not being provided proper care and respect.
2. Call the Assembly Appropriations Com. And urge a “NO” position 915-319-2081.  Chairman is Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, (D) formerly with San Diego Labor Council. Frank Bigeow, (R) V. chair 916-319-2005

SB97, Assembly Health Budget Committee. 

1. This bill, referred to as a health trailer bill includes the funding requirements for every health designated bill needing funding.
2. There are dozens of health care/Medicaid bills included. It is over 100 pages and requires an expert in legislative funding language to comprehend. 
3. This bill will be voted on  by an Assembly floor vote , following approval of the general budget bill itself. There are other trailer bills for appropriating the funding for bills that were passed without the required funding being stated.

THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE RETURNS FROM RECESS ON AUGUST 21 AND COMMITTEE AND FLOOR VOTING WILL BEGIN AGAIN. Call your Assembly member to vote “NO” on AB294.

Here is an example of misuse of  patients’ rights to legislatively enforced health care:

Our office received a phone call recently from a woman seeking support for a complaint filed with the courts seeking justice for the claimed Hospice initiated death of her father while under the care of a particular Hospice agency.

Her father, in the later stages of an illness, but quite rational, entered the care of a hospice agency. He signed a POLST form, but only that part that complied with his request for full curative treatment,

His wife, third marriage, was named as Health Care Agent, the patient’s daughter was listed as second agent.

According to the daughter’s claim, following closely upon the father’s entry into the facility Hospice personnel went to the wife and asked her to change the POLST form to allow for limited provision of curative care stating that the patient was not competent to make his own decisions.  No one informed the patient’s daughter of the changes.

The father died within two months of entering the facility though his own doctor had not declared him to be near terminal stages of illness.

The daughter, sensing that something was wrong with the whole situation began gathering records and data and had obtained a finding of illegal action on the part of the Hospice and the wife.

The patient’s daughter has for the last two years been gathering data and medical records.  She has asked for help in locating an attorney who would handle the court appearances.  She needs someone familiar with health cases.

Call our office if you are willing to step forward for this or if you know of someone to whom you could refer this woman. Thank you on her behalf.

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Theresa Deisher, President

Dr. Deisher’s career has focused on discovering and developing new therapies for grievous human illness. Dr. Deisher obtained her PhD in Molecular and Cellular Physiology from Stanford University and has spent over 19 years in commercial biotechnology, working with such illustrious companies as Genentech, Repligen, ZymoGenetics, Immunex and Amgen, prior to founding AVM Biotechnology and Sound Choice Pharmaceutical Institute.

Dr. Deisher is an inventor on 23 issued US patents, and her discoveries have led to clinical trials of FGF18 for osteoarthritis and cartilage repair, and for Factor XIII for surgical bleeding. Dr. Deisher was the first person to discover adult cardiac derived stem cells, and has been a champion of adult stem cell research, both professionally and privately two decades. She is a frequent lecturer on the stem cell issues delving into topics such as; research, clinical progress, policy, economics and ethics. She provides a breath of fresh air with a common sense approach which allows lay audiences to readily grasp the issues. Dr. Deisher has appeared on numerous radio shows, televised debates and live on The World Over Live with Raymond Arroyo.

John Brehany, Director of Institutional Relations at National Catholic Bioethics Center

John Brehany, Ph.D., S.T.L. has had extensive experience working in general and medical ethics since 1992. Previously, as the Executive Director and Ethicist for the Catholic Medical Association, he provided direction on health care ethics and public policy issues, supported membership and guild development, served as spokesman to the media, and coordinated publications, advertising, and ongoing development of the Catholic Medical Association. He was honored with the Evangelium Vitae award at the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) conference in Orlando on September 24-26, 2014 in recognition of his 8 years of dedicated service and contributions to the CMA with a special papal blessing for him and his family. In the past he has served as Executive Director of Mission Services and Ethics for Mercy Medical Center (Sioux City, IA) and Professor of Systematic and Moral Theology at Mount Angel Seminary (St. Benedict, OR). He received his Ph.D. in Health Care Ethics from Saint Louis University and M.A. in Philosophy from University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of San Francisco with majors in philosophy and theology.

David Bernal, Senior Program Manager

David is a Senior Program Manager – eCommerce with 12+ years of managing and directing strategic project initiatives. A skilled Systems Integrator with expertise in interactive web application development and delivery. Additionally, he is a proven manager with P&L responsibility, responsible for $50-70M consulting engagements with Fortune 100 Clientele. He remains abreast of global commerce issues and multi-tier platforms incorporating legacy systems and newer technologies. He possesses a strong background in Financial Services (i.e., banking, brokerage and insurance) and E-Commerce (i.e., both BTB & BTC).

Education: Undergraduate, Pepperdine University in Malibu. Graduate studies, Public Administration at Long Beach State University. Western State University College of Law in Fullerton

After approximately eleven years David left Pacific Bell as a Technical Director to pursue other opportunities. He has held multiple positions within Fortune 100 companies and titles including, but not limited to: Director of Engineering, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of various organizations.

Debra Vinnedge

Ms. Vinnedge is the Founder and Executive Director of Children of God for Life. Ms. Vinnedge is a nationally recognized author and speaker and has provided written testimony for the Embryonic Stem Cell Research (ESCR) Congressional hearings. She was honored with the Evangelium Vitae award at the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) conference in Orlando on September 24-26, 2014 in recognition for her outstanding service and her accomplishment over the past 14 years at Children of God for Life. She has appeared on both local and national television programs, including Fox News Channel’s Hannity and Colmes, a nationally syndicated program focusing on current events and issues. She has been a guest speaker on several national radio broadcasts, including USA Radio, and EWTN. Her work has been publicized in Our Sunday Visitor, New Covenant Magazine, American Life League’s Celebrate Life, the National Catholic Register, Human Life International Reports and numerous diocesan newsletters and periodicals. Ms Vinnedge resides in Largo, FL and is an active member of St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church where she promotes and defends Respect Life issues. She has been married 41 years and has 2 children and 6 grandchildren.

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Newspaper’s best-seller list ignores book exposing abortion horrors despite high sales

Gosnell: The Untold Story of America’s Most Prolific Serial Killer, by Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer. (Christian Post)

The authors of a new book exposing the horrors of the abortion industry are denouncing The New York Times for leaving their book off its best-seller list despite high sales.

Gosnell: The Untold Story of America’s Most Prolific Serial Killer by Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer reached No. 3 on Amazon’s bestseller list and the top spot on Amazon’s “Hot New Releases” list after its debut on Jan. 24. It sold out on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books A Million in a matter of days. According to Regnery Publishing, the book was the fourth top-selling hardcover non-fiction title in the country.

Yet it’s nowhere to be seen on The New York Times best-selling hardcover list.

The book did not make it into the top 15 when the Times announced its list Wednesday, a reality that would require an impossible algorithm, co-author McAleer said.

“This whole thing is doubly ironic. And that is because a portion of the book looks at The New York Times‘ bias in covering the original story and how they refused to cover it, how they tried to cover it up. And now they are trying to cover up the book that is exposing them covering up the story,” he continued.

Gosnell exposes the horrifying stories of late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell and his West Philadelphia abortion clinic. Some abortion accounts were so brutal that they could not be shown in the movie version of the book. It is estimated that he murdered thousands of unborn babies over the course of several decades by inducing them to be born alive and stabbing their necks with scissors, among other violent methods.

Magdalena Segieda, Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney are behind a made-for-TV movie based on the book by McAleer and McElhinney about abortionist Kermit Gosnell. (image from National Right to Life News Today)

“Illegal or legal, this is a bloody, disgusting, process. It is a barbarous process,” McAleer said in a previous interview with CP.

The Washington Examiner noted Thursday that The New York Times does not discuss how it decides to rank books and that some books with conservative themes “have initially been left off its influential lists only to show up in following weeks.”
 

(Original Article)

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While the rest of America looks forward, California steps backward.

Camille Giglio, YVRW Legislative Co-Chair.

1/30/17, Walnut Creek.  Now that Donald Trump has been officially sworn into the office of the President, hope, a sense of security and an appreciation for the Constitution is coming alive.

In California, however, we are stepping backwards.

The 1/29/17 edition of the East Bay Times published a commentary by Delaine Easton, former Assemblywoman, (1987-94) former Superintendent of Public Instruction, (1994 -2001 – appointed by Gov. Pete Wilson) entitled: Education lags, time for California Dreaming again.  In the article she calls for, among other deplorable ideas that: the education of our children as the most important work we as Californians can do. We must increase our investment in preschool.

She wants to run for Governor in 2018. Her platform would be:

A) making preschool mandatory.

B) Increasing the education budget.

C) Make further reductions in class sizes. (It was she who started this class- size reduction when she was Superintendent.

D) She supports a program referred to as K-12 Achievement (a tax gobbling group) which is sponsored by Ed Week.

E) Easton was one of the original supporters of Charter Schools during the 1990’s when she was Superintendent.

She claims: Schools are institutional incubators of human potential  

It was she who mandated a (vegetable) garden in every school and She oversaw a series of curriculum guides on how to teach the academic content standards in the context of nutrition, gardening and cooking.

She also gave her full support to Tom Torlakson during his campaign for Superintendent.

REPUBLICAN VOTERS HAVE TO INSIST THAT THE GOP FIND A BETTER CANDIDATE FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR THAN A BACKWARDS LOOKING, FORMER SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT.

 2017 Report on new state and federal legislation.

 There are 17 Congressional bills, all vital to the right-to-life cause of protecting life, about which we must be aware and prepared to support (or oppose). Most of them are tied in to HR7 Abortion Funding by Cong. Chris Smith. Alongside that are the two executive orders signed by President Trump to renew the 1976 Hyde Amendment, and the 1984 Mexico City Policy  

HEALTH RELATED BILLS:

HR 7 Provides for the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2017. 69 co-sponsors. Passed to the Senate.

S.184, Roger Wicker, (R), Prohibits taxpayer funded abortions. Companion to HR7. In Sen. Finance.

HR 6, Paul Ryan, (R), Spot bill/space reserved. No legislative language yet.

HR 628, Rodney Davis, (R), Public Health Service Act. Prohibits preexisting conditions contingent on repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

HR644, Diane Black, (R), Discrimination Against Health Service Providers. Prohibits discrimination against health services providers who are not involved in abortion.

HR684, Steven Palazzo, (R), Wrongful Birth and Life Civil Actions Damages Recovery. Prohibits recovery of damages.

HR681, Alexander Mooney, (R), Preborn Human 14^th Amendment Rights. Equal protection under the 14^th Amendment.

CRLC has received an Urgent Notice from Andy Schlafly,  the head of Legal Center for Defense of Life.  aschlafly@aol.com, the son of recently deceased Phyllis Schlafly, founder of Eagle Forum.

Mr. Schlafly, reflecting the concerns of many in the Pro life Movement, has distributed a paper on the various benefits or losses to the Pro Life Cause if President Trump appoints the wrong person to the U.S. Supreme Court. We are only a few short days away from President Trump making his announcement on his selection.

Included in this analysis is a link to a letter which is being sent to the President and signed by many people prominent in the Pro Life Movement.

Regarding California Senate bill 18 by Richard Pan, (D) a Bill of Rights for Children and Youth in California.  The official summary of the bill has caused great concern among many groups. The official summary, so far, states:

Declares the intent of  the legislature to expand and codify the Bill of Rights for Children and Youth and to establish a comprehensive framework that outlines the research-based essential needs of children and; establishes standards for the health, safety, well-being early childhood and education opportunities, and familial supports necessary for all children to succeed.

This reads very much like the United Nations Bill of Rights for Children and has people rifhtly upset.  According to sources in Sacramento, Mr. Pan has received a great deal of comments from parents opposing this language.  He is, therefore, most likely amending his bill to make it more appealing.  It is sitting in the Senate Rules Committee. As it stands now, it is an incompete bill. It has no authority at this time to require anyone to do anything because it has not identified a segment of any code which it desires to amend, therefore, it can not be taken our of Rules and sent to a committee for hearing.

When we learn more we will notify you. In the meantime, have computer or paper and ink ready to send a strong oppose position letter to Sen. Pan.

Camille Giglio, Director

California Right to Life Committee, Inc 1980
C: 925-899-3064
www.callifeadvocates@gmail.com
NOISEcoalition, wordpress.com

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CALIFORNIA RIGHT TO LIFE COMMITTEE, INC
2977 Ygnacio Valley Rd #243
Walnut Creek, Ca 94598
(925) 899-3064
www.callifeadvocates.org/blog

The Antithesis of Wisdom

I often refer to a small book of spiritual reading on the daily reflections of the Apostle Paul.  Today’s reflections in wisdom and its opposite, a lack of logic, is presented by Dale O’Leary, an author and contributor to several Catholic publications.

Ms O’Leary describes the antithesis of wisdom as the profane babblings about which St. Paul warned Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:20-21.

I might add that in our current experience the “profane babblings” has been the standard rhetoric of the presidential campaigns. Depending upon the outcome tomorrow night I would like to offer you the small but powerful prayer that Ms O’Leary offers in her treatise on Wisdom.

Dear Father in heaven, give us the true knowledge and the courage to stand against what is false and dangerous..

_________________

Is Obama to be thanked for higher graduation rates?

11.7.2016.  In a little more than 24 hours from now we will know, or have a pretty good idea, of the future of our country.  It has been said prior to every Presidential election since the first George Bush, that “this is the most important election ever.”  Well, this year is no exception.

I certainly can’t predict who will be elected or even how well that person will administer our government.

Only this do I know, we will still need an alert citizenry becauwe the election itself will be only the first step, a big step, yes, but there are many more to come.

Even if our favorite candidate should win (whomever that may be) nothing will change immediately or without long debate, much legislation and much need for witnessing truth to illogic

Just take the education of our children as one small example.  Education has become big business. Both Democrats and Republicans have, since at least George Bush and his Goals 2000 have been slowly expanding the federal government stranglehold on education.

None of these presidents have done away with the federal Dept of Education as some promised.  In fact it has been greatly expanded partly through the forming of partnerships with private industry.

The title of this report – reflects the suggestion that President Obama, personally, is responsible for an increase in graduation certificates.

However, another article published by EdWeek  asks What Does a High School diploma Mean?

This article claims that there are a total of 95 different types of high school graduation certificates representing all types of educational programs.

Of course, behind all this is the understanding that education has become big business with lots of salaries and executive officers and partnerships with more state and local departments of education. All these agencies vying for the right to earn the big bucks doing the educating, so-called, that we with our taxes are supposedly paying the classroom teachers for.

Did you know that there is a big federal Education Secretary named John B, King https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2016/05/03/john-king-slams-transgender-laws-nc-and-mississippi

If Hillary gets elected we can be assured that Mr. King will have job security. If Donald Trump gets elected, just how long will it take to remove Mr. King, or not?

My whole point in reporting on this is to encourage you to continue to be interested in public policy issues. Just getting a new President will not make the problems of education, health care, jobs, housing, transportation or immigration go away.  It will be ever more important that people stay involved, stand against the antithesis of wisdom and pray for God’s guidance for all of us.

©2016 Camille Giglio, California Right to Life Advocates. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

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CALIFORNIA RIGHT TO LIFE COMMITTEE, INC
2977 Ygnacio Valley Rd #243
Walnut Creek, Ca 94598
(925) 899-3064
www.callifeadvocates.org/blog

California Right to Life has compiled information from a variety of sources to provide the Pro Life voter with information on the acceptability of some candidates running for state and local offices. CRLC is not a political organization, We are a 501 (C) 4public policy;  education and health care research organization.  Those who get elected set or change the public policy through legislation..

California Right to Life News: 10.14.16

• Scott Wilk, (R-38 Valencia), Currently representing Assembly Dist.38, running for Senate District 21, Simi Valley. Voted for Asm Catharine Baker’s AB 2263 protecting Planned Parenthood workers, patients and staff from Pro Lifers.  Also voted for the Rob Bonta, (D) Oakland, fire arms restrictions bill ab2165. Is endorsed by the state GOP but is apparently a Rino along with several others such as Catharine Baker, (R-16 San Ramon) Tom Lackey,(R-36Palmdale), Ling Ling Chang, (R-55 Brea) BrianMaienschein, (R-77 San Diego) David Hadley,(R-66 Torrance).
   
• Catharine Baker is in trouble with Pro Life voters in her district due to her many votes for Democrat pro abort/anti-family bills, but she is also in trouble with the Democrats who have put out a vicious ad opposing her and supporting their real candidate, Democrat Planned Parenthood favorite Cheryl Cook-Kallio. Kallio loudly and proudly proclaims the values of Planned Parenthood.
   
• She also voted with the Democrats to raise taxes on health care policies especially for medical recipients thereby requiring more money from working families and young hires.
   
• David Hadley is in trouble with pro-lifers because he filled out his candidate questionnaire as a pro-lifer two years ago and then when in office voted for assisted suicide.
   
• Scott Wilk, (R-38) Palmdale, running for the Senate seat in dist. 21 is another Rino. There is another Wilk, Kevin Wilk, running for Walnut Creek City Council hoping to take over the seat held by Justin Wedel, (R)
   
• Could be related. They sure look alike.
   
• Sadly good conservative candidates such as Joe Rubey, Sen. Dist. 7, Contra Costa Co) and James Gallagher (R-03 Chico) were given no mention in any of the endorsements. Gallagher had to stand back and watch while the Democrats ripped apart, figuratively, his two very good pro-life pieces of legislation regarding sex education and opting-in rather than opting-out of  training sessions turning these bills into vehicles in support of the status quo.  This was done through amendments.
   
• On the national level in politics, aside from the media’s attacking every move made by Donald Trump, (and none by Clinton’s husband) some of Hillary Clinton’s minions have been discovered, through WikiLeaks to have via email discussed ways to neutralize the Conservative, traditional practices of the Catholic Church to create what one called “A Catholic Spring”
   
• Don’t forget that the 40 Days for Life prayer and witnessing outside Planned Parenthood abortion facilities continues until about November 2.  Babies are being saved. Find an hour of your time to come, witness to life, pray for those who won’t listen as well as for the clinic workers that they will awaken to the humanity in the lives that they are destroying.
   
• PLEASE VOTE. DON’T LET PRO ABORTS WIN BECAUSE YOU DID NOTHING.

Please visit our two websites for continuing information on legislation and public policy issues: www.callifeadvocates.org/blog and  www.noisecoalition.wordpress.com.

We are revising our mailing lists and would very much appreciate it if you would let us know if you wish to remain on our mailing list.  Either email us at callifeadvocates@gmail.com, phone us at 925-899-3064 or return the envelop with your decision. Most of  you have been with us a long time and we have grown fond of you and hope you will continue to receive our information.

©2016 Camille Giglio, California Right to Life Advocates. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

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Posted by Admin to on October 17th, 2016 | add a comment

HHS regulations addressing "Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities" went into effect in July. These regulations implement Section 1557 of the "Affordable Care Act." 

Provisions in the rule mandate that most physicians accepting federal funds will be required to post and publish a "notice of nondiscrimination" beginning on October 17 along with "taglines written in at least the top 15 languages spoken by limited English proficient populations statewide."

HHS provides templates for the required notification and taglines here:

http://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/section-1557/translated-resources/index.html

Other guidance about complying with these new rules can be found here:

http://www.hhhealthlawblog.com/2016/07/providers-must-post-new-nondiscrimination-notices.html and here:

http://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/section-1557

Receiving payment from Medicare Part B does not alone make a physician a "covered entity" under these regulations, but accepting other federal funds, for instance Medicaid and "meaningful use" payments, does. HHS states that "the regulation would likely cover almost all licensed physicians because they accept Federal financial assistance from sources other than Medicare Part B."

A dangerous aspect of the new regulation is that it greatly expands the definition of discrimination and therefore exposure of covered physicians to discrimination lawsuits by any patient and/or enforcement action by the federal government.

Note that accepting the first dollar of federal funding through Medicaid or any type of federal financial assistance (Medicare Part B is not considered federal financial assistance) is "volunteering" to help implement a radical social and political agenda of unlimited scope. The rule declines to provide illustrative scenarios because enforcement will depend on "an analysis that is nuanced and fact-dependent." The cost of federal funding is incalculable: first there is the enormous "investment" in attempts to comply. Then there is the risk of loss of one’s entire career and assets because of one dissatisfied patient who demanded a service a physician could not provide because it would violate his conscience. This could involve a religious prohibition, or simply the Hippocratic prohibition against killing or harming a patient.

If a physician declines to participate in certain procedures, then that physician could be ambushed by a patient who is heavily funded by a wealthy advocacy group. Once there is a multi-million dollar judgment against a physician, few will dare exercise their right of conscience again.

The Obama Administration has indicated that it will not allow exceptions under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which is what Hobby Lobby prevailed under. Instead, this new regulation asserts that there is a compelling interest to eliminate discrimination, and thus RFRA does not help.

A legal challenge to this regulation was filed by five states, but that Complaint does not focus on the problem of unleashing private new lawsuits against physicians for this. Thus, while AAPS will continue to monitor the implementation of these new rules and seek opportunities to challenge aspects that endanger physicians and their patients, the best protection for physicians is to withdraw from any activities that accept HHS funding except possibly Medicare Part B. It is also advisable for those who do accept Part B to become a "nonparticipating provider" at the earliest opportunity to facilitate complete withdrawal if it becomes necessary.

Please consider a tax-deductible contribution to our 501(c)3 legal wing, the American Health Legal Foundation. AHLF continues the fight to protect independent physicians and their patients, and with your help, it will investigate legal strategies to stop these new dangerous regulations.

Tax-deductible donations to AHLF can be made online at: http://AmericanHealthLegalFoundation.org or by mail to: AHLF, 1601 N. Tucson Blvd. Suite 9, Tucson, AZ, 85716.

Copyright © 2016 AAPS, All rights reserved.

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Posted by Camille to on October 6th, 2016 | add a comment

This week, the California Senate passed legislation sponsored by Planned Parenthood that expands criminal penalties for recording certain confidential conversations. The bill was designed to target the type of undercover journalism that exposed Planned Parenthood’s harvesting and selling of baby body parts.

Assembly Bill 1671 makes it a crime to record or publish confidential communications with health care providers—even if those conversations disclose criminal activity. Existing laws already criminalize recording of such communications and provide for a $2500 fine. Under AB 1671, the fine is attached to each violation, or each publication of the communication, including those on social media, blogs, websites, etc. Violators can also be sentenced to one year in state prison.

Opponents of the bill include the ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The ACLU has said the bill is an unconstitutional content-based regulation of speech and that limiting the bill to conversations with health care providers raises Equal Protection concerns. In Bartnicki v. Vopper, (2001), the Supreme Court found that the disclosure of an illegally intercepted conversation regarding a public issue was protected by the First Amendment.

AB 1671 is a direct attack on the efforts of David Daleiden and the Center for Medical Progress to expose Planned Parenthood’s illegal practice of selling fetal body parts for profit.

Since the release of Daleiden’s videos, eleven states have voted to defund the nation’s largest abortion provider.

By passing AB 1671, California legislators have demonstrated their willingness to trample on the free speech rights of their constituents in order to protect Planned Parenthood’s financial interests.

The bill will go back to the Assembly for a vote, where it is expected to pass. Please watch for upcoming emails seeking your help in urging California Governor Jerry Brown to veto AB 1671.

Please consider making a donation to Life Legal today so that we can continue to oppose legislation that only serves to protect Planned Parenthood’s financial interests.

(Original Article)

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Posted by Camille to , on September 2nd, 2016 | add a comment