Instead of Calling in, CCHC Suggests Citizens Write a Letter Asking Sen. Klobuchar for a Real Town Hall

A telephone call is not a town hall. We must not allow members of Congress to establish a precedent for town halls that keeps the public and their elected leaders out of the same room, especially when lives and livelihoods are at stake," says Twila Brase, president of CCHC.

Citizen Files Class-Action Lawsuit against HHS and Secretary Sebelius to Stop National Health Data System

The civil action lawsuit filed in U.S. District Count on June 24 by Beatrice M. Heghmann brings needed attention to the federal infringements of privacy and personal health care choices enacted through the economic stimulus bill, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009.

President Obama Implies Support for Health Care Rationing...But Avoids Using the Word

President Obama's statements imply strong support for health care rationing even though he never used the word. If the President's preferred health care policies become law, there will be so-called 'experts' and others outside the exam room deciding who gets what medical treatment and who does not, as well as which medical treatments will even be available to patients. (Page 6, response to Jane Sturm)

MN Health Plans Begin Sending Private Medical Records to State's Data Warehouse in Maine

Patients will have no choice. Every time they go to their doctor, or are admitted to the hospital, or get a prescription, their data will be shared with the State of Minnesota. By law, state health officials will be able to access and analyze their medical information, make outside judgments about their care, and potentially penalize their doctors, all without their consent," says Twila Brase, president of Citizens' Council on Health Care.

Citizens Petition Governor Pawlenty to not Repeal Genetic Privacy Rights

The genetic privacy and DNA property rights of all future generations are at stake with this legislation. If the health department’s legislation to eliminate genetic privacy rights makes it to the Governor’s desk, we call on Governor Pawlenty to protect the rights of all citizens, including newborn citizens, with a veto,” said Twila Brase, president of CCHC.

SUCCESS: Citizen Efforts Protect Genetic Privacy Law

The Minnesota Department of Health must begin immediately to comply with the state genetic privacy law by obtaining the required informed written parent consent for government storage, use and dissemination of newborn DNA," said Twila Brase, president of CCHC.

Parent consent for storage and use of newborn DNA should be required

The ACMG position paper on residual newborn screening dried blood spots from every American baby erroneously claims newborn blood is a 'national resource' and fails to acknowledge that the DNA-rich blood spots are personal genetic property, not the property of State governments and genetic researchers.

Will the MN House Vote to Repeal Genetic Privacy Rights at Birth?

The Minnesota House is expected to vote on a bill that will limit the ability of parents to protect their child's genetic privacy. The bill exempts newborns from the strong protections of the Minnesota Genetic Privacy Law (M.S. 13.386), and eliminates informed written parent consent rights now in law. Today, by law, government may not collect, store, use, or disseminate the genetic information of citizens without informed written consent. That includes newborn citizens.

NEWBORN GENETIC SCREENING: The New Eugenics?

To protect every American's right to self-determination, genetic privacy, and DNA property rights, it is time to require informed written parent consent for all facets of the newborn genetic screening program, including storage and use of genetic test results and newborn DNA," said Twila Brase, president of Citizens' Council on Health Care, and author of the report.

MN Senate Committee Says NO to Bill that would Repeal Genetic Privacy Rights

The genetic privacy rights of Minnesota citizens were given a boost yesterday by the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee when it refused to hear SF 1478, the Senate bill to repeal genetic privacy rights, says Citizens' Council on Health Care.