Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan
Although the questioning of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan by the Senate Judiciary Committee has ended, questions remain concerning serious discrepancies in her testimony and her involvement in redefining medical policies on partial-birth abortion.
New evidence surfaced last night, revealing Kagan's lobbying efforts of yet another medical organization.
In addition to possibly rewriting a consequential policy statement by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Kagan also lobbied the American Medical Association (AMA) –both groups widely considered to be nonpartisan.
According to a news release by Americans United for Life, "When discussing whether the AMA could reverse its policy that there is not an identified situation in which partial-birth abortion is the only appropriate method of abortion, ethical concerns surround it, and that it should not be used unless it is absolutely necessary, Kagan stated: 'We agreed to do a bit of thinking about whether we (in truth, HHS) could contribute to that effort (convincing the AMA to reverse their policy). Chuck and I are meeting with the AG on Tuesday; Donna offered to send over some doctors this week (though we don't know who or when) to give a medical briefing.'"
Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst for CitizenLink said further investigation is needed now that mounting evidence links Kagan to changes to independent medical policy, in order to politically benefit the Clinton administration.
"Her brief testimony at her confirmation hearing on this subject was vague, non-responsive," said Hausknecht, "and failed to answer the basic question on everyone's mind: Did Kagan suggest the additional language to the ACOG policy that was later cited in a Supreme Court opinion as a scientific medical finding? Did she do something similar with the AMA?
"If so, she effectively interfered with the judicial process that relied on the scientific accuracy of those medical groups," said Hausknecht.
"If this urgently needed investigation bears out the truth of these allegations, then Kagan should be disqualified immediately from serving on the court, whose integrity and trustworthiness she helped to undermine."
Contact: Catherine Snow
Source: CitizenLink
Publish Date: July 1, 2010
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