ANCHORAGE: Planned Parenthood announced it is suing to block unprecedented, intrusive regulations that would require women to report personal medical conditions to the government. Unilaterally instated by the Parnell Administration earlier this month, despite being rejected by the legislature last year, the regulations would place further restrictions on abortion procedures deemed medically necessary.

The Legislative Affairs Agency has found that the regulations are likely unconstitutional.

“These Parnell Administration regulations are an unprecedented intrusion into the medical privacy of Alaska women who deserve the ability to make health care decisions with their doctor, not the Parnell Administration,” said Mike Wenstrup, Chair of the Alaska Democratic Party.

Mead Treadwell claimed credit for the questionable regulations this week. After certifying the regulations as Lt. Governor, he told the Anchorage Chamber of commerce, “I was proud to sign those regulations.”

The Administration proposed “medically necessary” regulations after Senator Coghill’s legislation (SB 49) to accomplish the same goal was “bitterly opposed” and failed to pass the state legislature last year. Parnell’s new regulations force women and doctors to reveal highly personal medical information to government employees.

In acknowledgment of his new regulations’ unpopularity, Parnell posted the regulations on an obscure state webpage. Neither he nor Health and Social Services Commissioner Bill Steuer publicized the controversial new regulations even though they will have significant impacts on provision of health care in Alaska.