Tag Archives: DNA profiling
Celebrate Free Preventive Services!
As of August 1, 2012, all new health plans must cover eight women’s preventive services, including birth control, without cost sharing. To celebrate, we’re hosting a virtual party on Facebook – and we want you to sign the guestbook!
Preventive services are critical to a woman’s health, and cost has remained a burden for far too long. With the Department of Health and Human Services regulations going into effect on August 1, the following services will now be available without copays:
- Breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling;
- Screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence;
- Screening for gestational diabetes;
- DNA testing for high-risk strains of HPV;
- Counseling regarding sexually transmitted infections, including HIV;
- Screening for HIV;
- Contraceptive methods and counseling; and
- Well woman visits.
Take Action!
Tell us why you are celebrating these new requirements! You can share a personal story about the importance of preventive services, talk about why you are passionate about women’s health care, or write notes of congratulations to your fellow activists for getting the job done and passing health care reform legislation that includes these necessary services!
Each week of the party will have a different theme, so you can sign the guestbook as many times as you want. August starts on a Wednesday, so our themed weeks will also start on Wednesdays:
- August 1-7: Contraception
- August 8-14: Screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence
- August 15-21: Maternal care (breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling)
- August 22-28: Health education (screening for gestational diabetes; DNA testing for high-risk strains of HPV; counseling regarding sexually transmitted infections, including HIV; and screening for HIV)
- August 29-31: Well woman visits
The celebration continues all month, but you don’t want to show up late to the party! Sign the guestbook today and share with your friends and family.
Learn more about what preventive services will be covered at Healthcare.gov, as well as the other benefits for women such as the end of higher premiums for pre-existing conditions.
Follow AAUW on Twitter, and read our award-winning AAUW Dialog Blog for discussion, information, and advocacy for women and girls!
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Why won’t they test the DNA? … Jon Perri, Change.org
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The “all time champ in wrongful convictions”? Kirstin Lobato was 19 when she was sent to prison for murder — despite the fact that no physical evidence tied her to the crime scene, multiple witnesses testified that she was almost 200 miles away at the time, and other evidence pointed to a completely different person. Crucial DNA evidence ignored: For ten years, law enforcement officials have refused to test DNA evidence from the crime scene, even though it could exonerate Kirstin and find the real killer. Kirstin’s friend Michelle Ravell says the reason is clear: they know it could prove they’ve kept an innocent woman in prison for ten years. But now, there is new hope. You can help exonerate an innocent woman: A new District Attorney has just been appointed, and he has the power to agree to new DNA tests. Michelle says it’s a chance for him to right an historic wrong — and she knows that if he hears from thousands of people across the country, he’ll be convinced to take this opportunity to uncover the truth. —————— Here’s more information about Michelle’s campaign, in her own words. Kirstin Blaise Lobato is an innocent woman stuck in prison while evidence in her case goes untested for DNA. In 2002 at 19 years old, Kirstin was convicted for the murder and sexual assault of a homeless man named Duran Bailey in Las Vegas. But there was no physical evidence tying Kirstin to the crime and the evidence that was tested for DNA actually excluded her. There were four identifiable crime scene fingerprints – none matched Kirstin’s. A bloody shoe print was found next to the body and a footprint expert testified that it came from a “U.S. men’s size 9 athletic shoe.” Pubic hair found on the victim was tested for DNA and the results excluded both Blaise and the victim as the hair’s source. Multiple people testified that Kirstin was nearly 200 miles away from Las Vegas at the time of the crime. What happened to Kirstin could happen to anyone. But now, Kirstin has the opportunity to prove her innocence if Clark County District Attorney Stephen Wolfson makes two very reasonable decisions: to allow DNA testing of crime scene evidence and to not file any opposition to Kirstin’s appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court. The Innocence Project, an organization whose DNA testing work has freed 292 innocent people from prison, has offered to pay to test and re-test 13 pieces of evidence related to the crime using the latest in DNA technology and Wolfson still won’t allow it. In addition to the DNA evidence, Kirstin has proven her innocence by way of her Habeas Corpus petition‘s new evidence grounds. If the State of Nevada District Attorney doesn’t oppose her Appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court, justice will finally be served and she can regain her life. Clark County District Attorney Stephen Wolfson has a chance to do the right thing and to seek true justice in the murder of Duran Bailey. Please sign this petition and ask District Attorney Wolfson to allow DNA testing of crime scene evidence and to not file any opposition to Kirstin’s appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court. |
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Demand DNA test for a Texas man scheduled to die next week… Change.org team
Hank Skinner is scheduled to die on November 9. But the state of Texas may execute him without even conducting DNA tests on all of the evidence from his trial, despite a decade of requests from Hank and his lawyers.
Hank has been on death row since 1995 for the murders of his girlfriend and her two adult sons, and has steadfastly professed his innocence. Since his conviction, the star witness against Hank has recanted her testimony, and others have implicated another man as the killer.
Hank has just 8 days to live. His family created an organization called “Justice 4 Hank,” and they’re fighting for a DNA test for Hank. They started a petition on Change.org asking the Gray County District Attorney and the courts to order full DNA tests to determine if Hank is actually guilty — and to prevent Texas from possibly executing an innocent man. Click here to add your name to the petition.
At the time of his trial, the prosecution conducted DNA tests on the clothes Hank was wearing — but declined to test the rest of the physical evidence, including a rape kit, the murder weapons, several hairs clutched in the victim’s hand, and a bloody windbreaker that strongly resembles that of the man accused by others of being the true murderer.
Since the year 2000, Hank has been requesting that the office of the District Attorney that prosecuted him order DNA tests on the remaining evidence. But the DA’s office has continuously denied those requests, saying Hank should have requested the tests before his trial.
The Gray County District Attorney’s office has neglected to order these tests for more than a decade without consequences. By signing this petition, you can let members of that office know that their actions are being watched, and that it is unacceptable to send a potentially innocent man to his death without collecting all the relevant evidence.
Hank could die as soon as next week. Please sign the Change.org petition created by “Justice 4 Hank” and demand the Gray County District Attorney order a DNA test on the rest of the evidence before the execution. Click here to add your name:
http://www.change.org/petitions/in-the-interest-of-justice-grant-dna-testing-to-hank-skinner
Thanks for being a change-maker,
– Michael and the Change.org team
P.S. Big news! The New York Times is reporting that Bank of America is dropping its $5 fee after a massive Change.org petition by Molly Katchpole against the banking giant. It’s an amazing moment that proves that together we’re mightier than even the biggest corporations
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Run For Coverage!
How New Health-Care Laws Affect You … from Marie Claire
It’s health plan enrollment season again. And those who actually take the time to read the literature may save a heap of cash next our. Why? The benefits mandated by the
Affordable Care Act, a law requiring private plans to cover an array of preventative services and treatments at zero out-of-pocket cost. Women, especially,stand to gain, so read on.
__ What’s Covered Now: Mammograms and cervical cancer screenings;depression screening and counseling;obesity screening and counseling;folic acid supplementation;smoking interventions and counseling;breast-feeding support; chlamydia and gonorrhea screening
__ Coming Soon! Additional coverage for women,effective August 2012 -most significantly,100% covered FDA-approved prescription contraceptives. Also added were a doctor’s visit to determine which preventive services are recommended;rental of breast-feeding supplies;domestic violence screening;HPV DNA testing;sexually transmitted infection counseling; and HIV screening and counseling
__The Fine Print: Many plans(specifically,those created before March 23,2010)are grandfathered from providing such coverage. And coverage may not apply if you go out of network. Plus, some plans may choose not to cover brand-name contraceptives if a generic is available(unless the brand-name is doctor-recommended).
__Get What You’re Entitled to: Not sure if your insurance is up to par? Ask your benefits dept, or check out www.healthcare.gov/prevention
Be a Seed for Change 
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