Study Shows Patients in Vegetative States Can Learn, Predicting Recovery
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Brain-damaged patients who appear to have lost signs of conscious awareness might still be able to create new memories -- showing signs of new neural networks and potential for partial recovery, a new study shows. In patients who have survived severe brain damage, judging the level of actual awareness has proved a difficult process. And the prognosis can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. According to a Scientific American report, new research suggests that some vegetative patients are capable of simple learning -- a sign of consciousness in many who had failed other traditional cognitive tests. The findings are presented in a paper today in Nature Neuroscience. Mariano Sigman, senior study author and director of the Integrative Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Buenos Aires, said researchers wanted to "have an objective way of knowing whether the other person has consciousness or not." The neuroimaging work had surprised doctors by showing that some vegetative patients, when asked to imagine performing physical tasks such as playing tennis, still had activity in premotor areas. In other patients, verbal cues sparked language sectors. Recent research has revealed that about 40 percent of vegetative state diagnoses is incorrect -- which could have an impact on cases such as the painful starvation and dehydration death of Terri Schiavo.

Arizona Judge Prevents Pro-Life Groups From Intervening in Abortion Law Suit
Phoenix, AZ (LifeNews.com) -- An Arizona judge has prevented pro-life groups from intervening in a lawsuit the Planned Parenthood abortion business has filed against a new omnibus abortion law that protects medical workers and women considering abortions. Two Arizona legislators together with pro-life physicians and organizations filed motions Tuesday through their attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund to support an Arizona abortion law. But, in a Wednesday ruling, Judge David Campbell said accommodating the request to participate at this point "is not feasible." He said attorneys for both challengers of the law and the Attorney General's Office, which is defending it, have to file their own papers by the end of the day today. Campbell pointed out he is set to hear arguments on the request for an injunction on Tuesday. Judge Campbell agreed to let the pro-life groups and legislators file a single "friend of the court' brief, no longer than 12 pages, outlining their arguments of why they think the law should be allowed to take effect as scheduled on Wednesday. Center for Arizona Policy president told Capitol Media Services that the Attorney General's Office is focused on the technical legal issues and the collection of pro-life advocates will have an interest in convincing the judge there are legitimate medical reasons for the requirement that women be given certain information prior to getting an abortion. Campbell said he will consider later the requests of the groups to intervene in any future trial. The judge is expected to suspend the law while the lawsuit moves forward.

Virginia Pro-Life Candidate McDonnell Sees Lead Drop to Four Percent Over Deeds
Richmond, VA (LifeNews.com) -- The relentless attacks on Bob McDonnell by his pro-abortion opponent Creigh Deeds and the mainstream media have reduced McDonell's former double-digit lead in the governor's race to four percent. The InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion Research poll conducted Wednesday evening showed McDonnell leading Deeds 48 percent to 44 percent. Seven percent had no opinion. McDonnell has led throughout the race, much of the time by double-digits. But the gap has closed significantly in recent weeks and on Sunday, a Washington Post poll showed McDonnell up by a 51 percent to 47 percent margin. “The race has definitely tightened,” said Matt Towery, CEO of InsiderAdvantage. “Virginia is still very much a state that is up for grabs.” The poll showed stronger party support for Deeds than McDonnell. Eighty-nine percent of Democrats said they back Deeds, compared to 79 percent of Republicans who would vote for McDonnell. Among Independents, McDonnell leads by a significant margin, 55-33 percent. If the results are true, then pro-life advocates need to do more to get the pro-life base to support McDonnell and turn out for him on election day. Deeds holds a narrow 48-45 percent lead among women voters, whom the Democrat’s campaign has targeted intensely in the wake of news stories about McDonnell’s 1989 master’s thesis, which saw him defend his pro-life views. The good news for McDonnell the polls show some evening out and the worst of the attacks may be done.

Planned Parenthood of Illinois Brings Dangerous Abortion Drug to Springfield
Springfield, IL (LifeNews.com) -- Planned Parenthood of Illinois is bringing the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug, also known as mifepristone, to the state's capital city. A statement from the abortion business says that the abortion drug, which has been responsible for killing 13 women worldwide and has injured more than 1,100 in the United States alone according to the FDA, will be dispensed in Springfield in the "coming months." The pro-abortion group said, "After a careful assessment of the needs of patients and the community, PPIL decided to expand services to include medication abortion so that women will have more choices available to them." Hundreds of women could get abortions with the drug as PPIL says it administered more than 994 pregnancy tests last year and 28 percent of them were positive. "Sangamon County is home to some of the highest birth rates, including teen birth rates, in Illinois. Nearly half of all pregnancies in Illinois are unintended. And many of the women who come to the Springfield Health Center and find out they are pregnant request help in obtaining abortion services," it said. The group says the abortion drug is good news for women who have to drive to the abortion center in Peoria, the two in Champaign or the abortion business in Granite City for a surgical abortion.

Corpus Christ, Texas Hospital Gives Planned Parenthood Abortion Center $70K
Corpus Christi, TX (LifeNews.com) -- The Nueces County Hospital District Board of Managers has approved a $70,000 grant for the Planned Parenthood abortion business in town. The move came despite a public meeting where pro-life advocates expressed strong opposition. The money, approved unanimously, was part of $135,000 the hospital district supported for three local organizations. The Caller newspaper indicates the hospital board has approved funding for the pro-abortion group since 2000. The money came from the state’s settlement with tobacco companies. During the meeting, the newspaper reported, members of South Texas Stop Planned Parenthood questioned Planned Parenthood’s work, including its promotion of abortion. Kristie Rutledge told the board the organization promotes casual sex to teenagers. “That will lead to teenage sexuality, and it will lead to pregnancy,” she said. Rutledge, a teenage mother at 19, said the board would be better off funding other needed programs. Amanda Stukenberg, executive director of the local Planned Parenthood center, defended the pro-abortion group. “We feel we deliver a tremendous amount of services for the money invested,” she said. Stukenberg said the local center doesn't do surgical abortions but does referrals for them.

Malta Stands Up for Pro-Life View on Abortions at United Nations Human Rights Mtg
Geneva, Switzerland (LifeNews.com) -- Pat Buckley of the British pro-life group SPUC has been at the meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and has the following report: "The United Nations Human Rights Council reviews periodically the situation on human rights in UN member-states. The council has just released the report of its review of Malta. In the review process, the Maltese government 'reiterate[d] that the right to life is an inherent right of every human being – this includes the unborn child, from its conception. We will retain our existing national legislation on the question of abortion.' The Holy See (the government of the Catholic Church) supported Malta within the council by recommending that Malta 'continue its policy in defense of the right to life' Malta's resolute and courageous stand for life and family values in the face of considerable pressure from pro-abortion and anti-family forces is to be commended. The Holy See is also to be commended for supporting Malta's pro-life and pro-family laws." The defense comes at a time when Malta was given an ambassador from the United States, Douglas Kmiec, who has defended the pro-abortion views of President Barack Obama.

Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com