Sore Spots and G-Spots

Sore Spots

Don’t bother auditioning for the Pirates of the Caribbean if you have breast implants. Disney’s decided that only women with natural breasts will be cast in the upcoming film and women must pass a “run and jump test” to prove their assets are natural. While Disney’s beauty standards have traditionally been stereotypical and European, this decision is particularly puzzling given the company’s past focus on emphasizing breasts – notably Pirate’s star Kiera Knightly’s. To make Knightly’s breasts appear larger and enhance her cleavage, the star spent 45 minutes every day having make-up artists add shade and volume to her naturally small chest.

Sources:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article70698...
http://www.feministing.com/archives/020493.html

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In yet another effort to negate the fact that abortion is legal in the U.S., Utah passed HB 462 in early March and the Governor signed it later that month. The bill makes it legal to prosecute women for causing the death of a fetus through an “intentional and knowing act” unless that death qualifies as a legal abortion. Utah joins Delaware and New York in criminalizing self-induced abortion. Meanwhile, we are tired of state and federal laws that punish women for their personal reproductive choices.

Source: National Women’s Law Center

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Government mandates require newborns to be screened for a panel of genetic diseases.  Because it’s mandated, testing is often done without the parents’ consent and the DNA can be stored for 6 months to indefinitely, depending on the state where the baby was born.  The DNA samples have a variety of uses (including helping parents identify a missing or deceased child and in conducting medical research), but some parents are concerned about the practice of collecting and storing DNA without their knowledge or consent. Parents also fear their child might suffer if he or she is flagged as having a genetic defect or abnormality.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/04/baby.dna.government/index.html?hpt=C1

G Spots

Drug and medical device manufacturers are now required to report gifts and payments they make to physicians and teaching hospitals!  This issue has been near and dear to our hearts for many months. We are delighted that the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, a part of the larger health care reform legislation, requires providers of medical care to be more transparent and accountable to the public.
Source: http://www.prescriptionproject.org/sunshine_act/

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Home births and other non-hospital births increased in 2005 and held steady in 2006.  While the increase was very slight (.87% to .09%), we’ll take it. According to the report, babies born at home were less likely to have a low birth weight or be premature; these benefits held true even in cases of unplanned, emergency home births to women at low risk. Despite the benefits of home birth, both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Medical Association (AMA) have taken stances against the process.
Source: Trends and Characteristics of Home and Other Out-of-Hospital Births in the United States, 1990–2006

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The Obama Administration has a goal of eliminating U.S. “food deserts” by 2017.  Many urban and rural communities lack healthy food options and residents have to travel over a mile to the closest grocery store. The Healthy Food Financing Initiative will use Federal funds to address this situation and expand communities’ access to healthy food.  Both large- and small-scale initiatives will be funded, including grocery store construction and/or expansion and placing more fresh produce in convenience stores. President Obama’s proposed 2011 budget makes $400 million in financial and technical assistance available through the Departments of Agriculture, the Treasury, Health and Human Services.
Source:  Treasury Press Release