The woman is still trying to cope with the shock of losing her child as well as the trauma of finding the body in her bag in her Ballarat Base Hospital room in December.

The incident is one of a string of lawsuits against the hospital in the past two months. But Ballarat Health Services say there is no cause for alarm.

The woman, who has other children, was 18 weeks pregnant when she went to the hospital with bad bleeding. Despite the efforts of staff she lost the baby.

The woman was admitted to hospital and was recovering from the miscarriage.

Hours after she lost her baby she went to her personal items bag, which is given to patients by the hospital for them to store clothes and other items.

As she put her hands into the bag she came upon a package labelled with her name and wrapped in a towel.

The woman unwrapped the package and found the fetus.

It is believed the woman was alone at the time and called out in shock. Nurses rushed to comfort her.

Ballarat Health spokesman Luke Mullane said a full investigation had been conducted into the event and the hospital would consider any recommendations to improve patient care, safety and support.

"We are extremely saddened and deeply regret what occurred and feel greatly for the family," he said.

"Ballarat Health Services offered all necessary support services to assist the family in coming to terms with the loss at the time and is continuing to do so.

"Since this event there have been a number of changes made in our procedures to ensure that families have the opportunity to consider their care options."

The woman was discharged after two days in hospital.

Slater and Gordon are representing the woman but would not comment.

She is not the only patient of Ballarat Health Services to call on Slater and Gordon.

In December the firm filed three writs against the service alleging medical negligence.

One writ concerns a mother who died from excessive bleeding at Ballarat Base Hospital after the birth of her son in December 2004.

In that case it is alleged the hospital failed to appropriately diagnose, monitor, treat and adequately manage the woman's condition.

The claim is for damages and is made on behalf of her estate and dependants.

In another case, a 34-year-old man suffered an injury to his penis when an operating bed collapsed while he was having a procedure.

In his statement of claim the man said he also sustained a back injury, prostate injury and nervous shock because the bed was unsafe.

He has claimed damages for injury, loss and damage.

In a third case an 11-year-old girl, through her litigation guardian, has sued for damages alleging she suffered a brain injury and has developmental problems and hearing impairment because of negligence at her birth.

She alleges that after her birth by caesarean staff failed to adequately diagnose and treat post-natal complications.

Mr Mullane said the hospital could not comment on the incidents, some dating back to 1996, because they were subject to medico-legal processes.

But he said the health service was fully accredited with the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards and rejected any claims it was unsafe.

Health Minister Daniel Andrews said the Ballarat public could have confidence in the Ballarat hospital.

"I've asked for a report on these incidents. Let me assure local residents that Ballarat Health is a quality health service," he said.

"This is due to the professionalism and dedication of staff and the record funding provided by the Brumby Government."

I am so pissed, I buy this at the vets and it's contaminated!

Reading the New York Times National Report this morning.

"Pet Food Contained Chemical Found in Plastic, F.D.A. Says"

....was included in one brand of dry cat food,

Prescription Diet M/D Feline, made by Hills Pet Nutrition.

Most vets push to use this to keep cats healthy, so it's everywhere. Please repost!

60 million containers of pet food recalled

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/176500…

WASHINGTON - A major manufacturer of dog and cat food sold under Wal-Mart, Safeway, Kroger, PetSmart and other store brands recalled 60 million containers of wet pet food Friday after reports of kidney failure and deaths.

An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, Menu Foods said in announcing the North American recall. Product testing has not revealed a link explaining the reported cases of illness and death, the company said.

“At this juncture, we’re not 100 percent sure what’s happened,” said Paul Henderson, the company’s president and chief executive officer. However, the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, since dropped for another source, spokeswoman Sarah Tuite said. Wheat gluten is a source of protein.

The recall covers the company’s “cuts and gravy” style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches between Dec. 3 and March 6 throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The pet food was sold by stores operated by the Kroger Co., Safeway Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and PetSmart Inc., among others, Henderson said.

Menu Foods did not immediately provide a full list of brand names and lot numbers covered by the recall, saying they would be posted on its Web site — www.menufoods.com/recall — early Saturday. Consumers with questions can call (866) 463-6738.

CAT FOOD BRANDS: http://www.menufoods.com/recall/pr…
DOG FOOD BRANDS: http://www.menufoods.com/recall/pr…

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/050…

I need to worry about how I'm acting when I'm blacked out on videos of animal cruelty tested
Seller of dogfighting tapes on trial here in first case brought under 1999 law

Wednesday, January 12, 2005
By Torsten Ove, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In the first trial of its kind in the United States, a Virginia man who sells dogfighting videos worldwide is being prosecuted here under a federal law banning videos showing cruelty to animals.

The law was motivated by an effort in California to stop the proliferation of "crush videos," in which women in spike heels slowly crush small animals to death for the sexual gratification of a bizarre subculture of fetishists.

The practice outraged animal-rights activists and spurred a California congressman to draw up a bill that prohibits the "creation, sale or possession" of depictions of animal cruelty.

President Clinton signed it into law in 1999.

Now Robert J. Stevens, 64, of Pittsville, Va., is on trial here before Senior U.S. District Judge Alan Bloch, charged with three counts that could send him to prison for 15 years.

The case boils down to a battle over the Constitution, because the facts are not in dispute.

Stevens and his wife, Julie, are pit bull enthusiasts who advertised in an underground dogfighting journal and then sold three dogfighting videos to undercover agents, including one that also showed pit bulls attacking pigs.

Stevens, who runs a company called Dogs of Velvet and Steel, narrates the videos like a boxing analyst on such titles as "Pick-A-Winna" and "Japan Pit Fights," sometimes comparing various dogs to Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and Mike Tyson.

The government says the videos, while not the crush videos that led to the federal statute, are still illegal under that law.

Stevens and his public defender, Michael Novara, argue that the videos are protected free speech under the First Amendment because they fall under an exception to the law.

Depictions of cruelty are legal if they have "serious religious, political, scientific, educational, journalistic, historical or artistic value."

"Let me say right now: We concede that animals are being injured in these videos," Novara said, but he insisted the videos are historical and educational.

His three expert witnesses will testify to that, he said. One of the videos, for example, is called "Catch Dogs" and shows pit bulls tearing into farm hogs. Novara said one of his witnesses, a California hunter, will testify that the video is designed to show how pit bulls should and should not be trained for hunting wild boars.

On the video, Stevens can be heard narrating as a dog named Katie tears out the throat of a pig.

"This is what you don't want," he says at one point, indicating that the dog needs to be retrained to catch and not kill.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Kaufman said the video featuring pigs is clearly a depiction of animal cruelty.

"The farm pigs are absolutely helpless," he said in court papers. "The scenes have nothing to do with legitimate hunting."

Kaufman said the pit bull fights, some of which are filmed in Japan, where dogfighting is legal, also show animal cruelty. Some of the fights last over an hour, and the dogs are obviously exhausted and wounded.

Kaufman's argument equates the sale of animal cruelty videos to the distribution of child pornography, because he said both foster a demand for images of an illegal activity.

All 50 states I need to worry about how I'm acting when I'm blacked out cruelty to animals, but no laws made distribution of videos illegal.

The push to enact a federal law came from U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., who was disgusted at crush videos. He introduced the bill after the Ventura County district attorney had trouble prosecuting an Anaheim man who sold crush videos online.

To make a case, police had to prove a tape was made within a three-year statute of limitations and identify those involved. That was almost impossible because the videos show women only from the waist down, crushing mice, kittens, hamsters and puppies with high heels.

In addition to protecting animals, he said he was concerned because studies show animal cruelty often escalates to violence against people.

Clinton called the practice of making the videos "deplorable and indefensible."

But he also said he recognized the First Amendment concerns and wanted the Justice Department to limit its prosecutions to those videos made for a "prurient interest in sex."

Part of Novara's argument is that the Stevens' videos have nothing to do with sex and that the law is too broad. He said it could be used to outlaw fishing or hunting videos, or depictions of cruelty from popular culture.

As an example, he pointed to an episode of the TV drama "The Shield" in which a police detective strangles a cat to feel what it is like to kill.

"The showing of movies or television programs containing a single depiction of harm to animals, whether real, staged or virtual, could be prosecuted," Novara said.

The trial continues today.

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.wcsx.com/jox/jjl/david_…

(hahahahahahahah!) best one from them yet!

Look, we're all for reasonably priced health care, but when your gynecologist operates out of a self-storage facility and does not charge for his services, perhaps you might want to investigate the guy's credentials. Story at:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archi…


When we think back to our school days, a nice margarita would have helped wash down all that lunchroom slop we endured. That tasty libation was just accidentally served to some Virginia grammar school students who thought they were getting limeade. Kids, welcome to Margaritaville:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archi…

In Norway there is a band called Cumshots. Durring a show to raise awarness for the rain forest two nature lovers got onstage and had sex in front of a screaming cheering fans for a whopping 10 minutes under a banner that said Fuck For Forest.
I sadly have no pictures of this scanned but the guy was hot.

It's been a while since we've had any skullfuckery, so, here's another contribution from me:

http://www.ghastlycomic.com/

Have fun.

My favorite rag in the whole entire world is the New York Daily News. The Post is shite & Newsday can't hold a candle. I like to get it occasionally to revel in New York, & so yesterday I did.

Within the paper, I found an article about a new sensation sweeping The City: cuddle parties. That's right. People pay $30 for a 3½-hour session in an apartment with other people all wearing pajamas where they all snuggle up to each other. It's non-sexual, it's policed, & it's gaining in popularity.

This is perhaps the bestest greatest single idea I have ever heard of. I wish I'd thought of it. I want to start something like it in State College. If it's $30 in The City, then $15 should be perfect here. Hell, maybe even for free. They even have a website to explain it all away.

Seriously. That just makes my day

Bill Cosby: Blacks can't speak English
NAACP leaders stunned by remarks of prominent comedian


In the presence of NAACP President Kweisi Mfume and other African-American leaders, comedian Bill Cosby took aim at blacks who don't take responsibility for their economic status, blame police for incarcerations and teach their kids poor speaking habits.

Cosby made his remarks at a Constitution Hall event in Washington Monday night commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision that paved the way for integrated schools, reported Richard Leiby in his Reliable Source column for the Washington Post.

Leiby said Cosby's remarks were met with "astonishment, laughter and applause."

When Cosby finally concluded, Leiby said, Mfume, Howard University President H. Patrick Swygert and NAACP legal defense fund head Theodore Shaw came to the podium looking "stone-faced."

Shaw told the crowd most people on welfare are not African American. He insisted many of the problems his organization addresses among blacks are not self-inflicted.

Cosby said, according to Leiby: "Ladies and gentlemen, the lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal. These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids – $500 sneakers for what? And won't spend $200 for 'Hooked on Phonics.'

He added: "They're standing on the corner and they can't speak English. I can't even talk the way these people talk: 'Why you ain't,' 'Where you is' ... And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk. And then I heard the father talk. ... Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. ... You can't be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth!"

The Post said Cosby also targeted imprisoned blacks.

"These are not political criminals," he said. "These are people going around stealing Coca-Cola. People getting shot in the back of the head over a piece of pound cake and then we run out and we are outraged, [saying] 'The cops shouldn't have shot him.' What the hell was he doing with the pound cake in his hand?"