N.B. court gives nod to Morgentaler's challenge
09.08.2008 16:00
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
Abortion provider Dr. Henry Morgentaler has the legal right to challenge the New Brunswick government's policy on abortion funding, a judge has ruled. Morgentaler is trying to force the government to pay for abortions done at his private Fredericton clinic. Currently, women pay the $750 fee themselves, while the province only pays for abortions approved by two physicians and performed at an approved hospital. When the case first went to court in 2007, the province tried to stop it by arguing that Morgentaler did not have the legal standing required to challenge the policy. Instead, the province said, only a woman who had used the abortion clinic had the right to question the government's payment policy. In a decision made public this week, New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench Judge Paulette Garnett rejected the province's argument, saying Morgentaler has the legal right to take the case to court . "There are many valid reasons why women who have had abortions at the Fredericton clinic would not or could not bring this challenge," Garnett ruled. "Dr. Morgentaler is therefore a suitable alternative person to do so." The decision is a major victory, said Rosella Melanson, executive director of the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women. "Dr. Morgentaler seems to have won on all counts," she said. "So finally, it will get to court, hopefully soon." The government said it is reviewing Garnett's decision before deciding whether it will appeal. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksN.B. challenges Morgentaler's right to sue over abortion policyHealth HeadlinesNicotine gene linked to addiction Whether smoking your first cigarette brings on a pleasurable buzz or a wave of nausea may depend on what type of nicotine-related gene you have.Mixing cholesterol, heart drugs boosts risk of muscle damage: FDAA drug prescribed for high cholesterol may raise the risk of serious muscle injury in people who also take a medication to control an irregular heart beat, U.S. health officials warned Friday.Legal bid to release list of Quebec heart patients with questionable valves rejectedThe Quebec Health Insurance Board has been thwarted in its attempt to force a U.S. medical company to turn over its list of cardiac patients from the province.Gift cards key to new AIDS prevention strategy Desperate for a way to stop the escalating spread of HIV among young gay men in the U.S., public health officials are looking to enlist local gay opinion leaders to urge their peers to practise safe sex.Cancer may be worse in obese men screened for PSA: study Prostate cancer may be more aggressive in obese men because their screening test results tend to be less accurate, say doctors who compared prognosis rates. Health FeaturesFOOD SAFETYInfrared heatA new wavelength for food securityAIDS RESEARCHLife expectancyBig jump in survival rates for those on HIV drugsIN DEPTHLyme diseaseTiny tick, big problemANOTHER VIEWDrugs and drivingNew law a 'positive step', analyst saysHEALTH & FITNESSPeter HadzipetrosRunning from wrinklesHEALTHTrans fatsPeople who read this also read …
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