By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-912601.mp3
LANSING, MI –
Starting next year, Michigan will begin collecting numbers on how many Hispanic women have abortions.
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Doctors are required to send a report to the state Department of Community Health every time they perform an abortion. The report includes information on where the woman lives, her marital status, age, and race - American Indian, Asian, Black, Pacific Islander, or White. Hispanic women who had abortions were usually placed in the category of white people. Next year, Hispanic women will be tracked separately. By most estimates, Hispanics are the fastest-growing ethnic group in the country.
The measure is not particularly controversial - Governor Granholm signed the bill and supports abortion rights. It was sponsored by state Representative John Espinoza who opposes abortion.
Other forms required by the state to track health information, such as cancer or HIV infections, already ask if a patient is Hispanic.