The Washington Post reports “a quiet evolution in the nation’s abortion battle,” in which, increasingly, abortion opponents are pursuing medical information from state health departments on women who have abortions and the doctors who perform them. Often, complaints are filed with authorities based on what’s learned. In some cases, organizations like Planned Parenthood have sued, arguing that release of the records would be an invasion of privacy. While anti-abortion activists say their aim is to uncover incidents involving women who may have been harmed, their opponents say the aim is to reduce abortions by intimidating women and their doctors, “using the loss of privacy as a weapon.” (Registration may be required to access this story.)
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