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RFM NEWS
Chicago, Illinois
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Whistle Blower Nurse Reprimanded by Employer / Born Alive Amendment added to
U.S. Senate Patients Bill of Rights Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 2, 2001 (RFM NEWS) By a vote of 98-0, the U.S. Senate
passed a Born-Alive Amendment to the Patients' Bill of Rights legislation
which was approved by the Senate on Friday, June 29th.  The identically
worded Born-Alive Infants Protection bill passed the U.S. House of
Representatives in 2000, with only 15 dissenting votes.

The labor and delivery nurse, who first exposed the use of the live-birth
abortion method, which prompted the need for Born-Alive Infants Protection
legislation, is allegedly continuing to be harassed at her place of
employment.

Jill Stanek, the whistle blower who first exposed the fact Advocate Christ
Medical Center, located in Oak Lawn, Illinois, uses this abortion procedure,
received her second final warning concerning her activism on the live-birth
abortion issue.

In the live-birth abortion technique, a mother seeking an abortion is
pharmaceutically induced into premature labor.  The procedure is completed
when the pregnant woman's cervix (the opening at the base of the uterus) is
dilated, inducing premature birth.   Occasionally, live babies are delivered,
but then are left to die, in order to complete the abortion.

The story, first reported on by WYLL Radio and City News USA in 2000, has
since received national attention.  Stanek testified last year before the
U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and is scheduled to
give testimony again on July 12, 2001, in Washington, D. C.

Since it was first revealed the method was being used at Christ Hospital and
its member medical facilities, owned by Advocate Health Care Systems of Oak
Brook, Illinois, it has come to light the procedure is being implemented
throughout the nation.

Recently, whistle blower Stanek received her second formal reprimand from her
employer, Christ Hospital, who cited Stanek for the following violations of
company policy. 

According to Advocate Christ Hospital:
* Stanek's testimony both publicly and to Congress was not truthful
* Stanek is not allowed to encourage pickets on her own time
* Stanek is harassing fellow workers and calling them at home
* Stanek's testimony is inconsistent

RFM NEWS is reporting a producer for Rev. Jerry Falwell's syndicated
television program, "Listen America," received a phone call from someone
claiming to work for Christ Hospital who also stated they represented Nurse
Stanek in a public relations capacity.  Channing Shipley, Falwell's Executive
Producer, said the call seemed extremely odd because the individual was
requesting a copy of a show which hadn't yet aired.  Shipley told RFM NEWS
the program was going to look into the possible misrepresentation of Stanek
during the next few days.  The expert on constitutional law told RFM NEWS if
it can be proven that a phone call from Christ Hospital was placed to the
Falwell program and made by someone intentionally attempting to misrepresent
Stanek, in order to obtain information that might violate the labor and
delivery nurse's First Amendment rights, the incident may bolster any future
litigation concerning a possible case of workplace harassment on Stanek's
behalf.  The alleged phone call occurred shortly before Stanek was scheduled
to be interviewed by Rev. Falwell.

Nurse Stanek denies she has violated hospital policy in any way.  The final
charge, regarding inconsistencies in her testimony, according to the
hospital, arose from a misquote in a local newspaper which the medical
facility acknowledges as a misquote.  RFM NEWS has learned Stanek, allegedly,
could be fired for any of these infractions, according to the reprimand from
Christ Hospital. 

A legal expert told RFM NEWS Christ Hospital is treading on dangerous grounds
concerning its attempt to stifle Stanek's First Amendment rights.  Stanek
refused to address any of the legal ramifications resulting from Christ
Hospital's reprimand with RFM NEWS.   

Stanek will testify in front of the U.S. House Judicial Subcommittee on the
Constitution at 12:00 p.m. on July 12, 2001.

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