Abortion and University of Wisconsin Medical Residents

Wisconsinites, are your tax dollars being used to train University of Wisconsin medical students how to do abortions?

Yes.

From LifeNews:

More documents a pair of pro-life groups have uncovered using freedom of Information Act requests show the University of Wisconsin may be illegally funding internships for medical students at abortion centers.

The new documents obtained via an open records request by Pro-Life Wisconsin and the Alliance Defense Fund reveal that, since 2007, UW has spent more than $58,878 paying for abortion training.

State law prohibits the use of taxpayer funds to pay for elective abortions or to abortion centers.

James Dechene, senior vice president and general counsel for UWHCA, sent a letter to the pro-life groups in response to the open records request.

“Medical residents from the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority [UWHCA] participate in training at the Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (PPWI) facility in Madison, WI… UWHCA continues to pay its residents while they are in training at PPWI,” he explained.

Peggy Hamill, state director of Pro-Life Wisconsin, told LifeNews.com today she believes the actions constitute a violation of state law.

“Wisconsin law is very clear: No state agency can fund abortion or abortion programs,” Hamill said. “The University of Wisconsin and its Hospital are not above the law.”

She points to Statute 20.927 of Wisconsin law stating, “No funds of this state or of any… agency of this state… shall be authorized for or paid to a physician or surgeon or a hospital, clinic or other medical facility for the performance of an abortion.”

Hamill also points to Statute 20.9275, which prohibits spending state funds on programs that provide, encourage, or refer for abortions.

The records show medical residents in the UW School of Medicine Ob/Gyn Department have two four-week rotations at Planned Parenthood, where they view and participate in abortions.

The records also contain a November 14, 2008 email, in which Carl Getto, M.D., the senior vice president of medical affairs at UWHC, stated, “UWHC has been paying for the [Planned Parenthood] rotation to date. We will continue to do so. Please let Planned Parenthood know.”

...The groups also point to a November-December 2008 email exchange where Gloria Frane, an employee of the UW School of Medicine Ob/Gyn Department, stated that UW paid abortion practitioner Caryn Dutton and two companions to travel to the University of North Carolina to view how late-term abortions are done there.

Frane concludes the email with, “I hope the ladies’ trip re: the pregnancy [termination] was a success!”

Read about the UW "Residency Rotation Guidelines & Objectives."

Goals
To develop clinical skills in family planning and abortion services and to develop awareness of the larger role that access to these services plays in the lives of our patients. Participation in performing abortion procedures is optional, and should be discussed with Dr. Dutton and the program director on an individual basis.

Duty Hours & Locations
Two blocks of consecutive four week rotations with days alternated between Planned Parenthood and UHS. This rotation takes place at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin’s Comprehensive Reproductive Health Center (CRHC).

The schedule is:
8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday: Family planning
8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Tuesday: Pre-op/counseling visits and first trimester abortion procedures

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
 Counsel patient about all alternatives available to them for unplanned pregnancy including induced abortion. PC, ICS, PBLI, P

 Understand and comply with state laws requiring 24-hour waiting period prior to abortion. MK, SBP

 Understand pre-operative evaluation and elicit pertinent history from patients requesting induced abortion. MK, PC

 Perform bimanual pelvic exam and transvaginal and/or abdominal ultrasound to date early pregnancies. PC

 Describe techniques and appropriate timing for pregnancy termination methods including suction curettage, dilation and evacuation, and medical abortion. Residents opting to perform abortions will demonstrate initial procedural skill with manual vacuum aspiration, electric suction aspiration (D&C), and evaluation of POCs. MK

 Describe and understand treatment of potential complications of pregnancy termination. MK

 Explore social, political, economic, cultural, and personal issues surrounding abortion care and access to reproductive health care. PBLI, SBP

This seems to be in violation of state law, doesn't it?