Jill Stanek

{{Infobox medical person

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| name = Jill Stanek

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| image = Jill Stanek 2009.jpg

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| caption = Stanek in 2009

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| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1956}}

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| nationality = American

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| occupation = Anti-abortion activist and nurse

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| known_for = Saying "live birth abortions" were being performed at Christ Hospital in the Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn and the premature infants were being left to die in a utility room

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| website = {{official website|JillStanek.com}}

| profession = Nurse

| field = Maternity

| work_institutions = Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois

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Jill Stanek (born 1956) is an American anti-abortion activist and nurse from Illinois best known for saying "live birth abortions" were being performed at Christ Hospital in the Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn and the premature infants were being left to die in a utility room.{{cite news|last=Roeser|first=Thomas|title=Amended abortion policy is cold comfort Nurse's objection to leaving babies to die gets her fired|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4609884.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921211857/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4609884.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 September 2014|accessdate=23 April 2014|newspaper=Chicago Sun Times|date=8 September 2001}}

Career

After witnessing a car accident, Stanek studied nursing, gaining a degree in nursing in 1993. She began working at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois after graduating, spending two years in a cardiac ward before moving to a maternity ward.

=Christ Hospital controversy=

Stanek gained initial prominence in 1999 when she testified that, while she worked at Christ Hospital, infants that survived induced labor abortions were abandoned to die in a utility room.{{cite web|url=http://www.house.gov/judiciary/stan0720.htm |title=Stanek's testimony |publisher=House.gov. |accessdate=2012-09-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516222034/http://www.house.gov/judiciary/stan0720.htm |archivedate=2008-05-16 }}{{cite news |last1=Fountain |first1=John W. |title=Nurse says abortion stance led to firing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/107942630/?terms=%22Jill%2BStanek%22 |date=9 September 2001 |accessdate=24 August 2019 |work=The Indianapolis Star |agency=The New York Times |location=Indianapolis, Indiana |page=A15}}{{cite news |last1=Ritzel |first1=Rebecca J. |title=Choosing life at all costs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/567369119/?terms=%22Jill%2BStanek%22 |accessdate=24 August 2019 |work=Intelligencer Journal |date=11 May 2004 |location=Lancaster, Pennsylvania |pages=B1-2}}{{cite news |last1=Behrens |first1=Web |title=Jill Stanek. Leading a fight against abortion |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/231251093/?terms=%22Jill%2BStanek%22 |accessdate=24 August 2019 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=1 September 2004 |location=Chicago, Illinois |pages=8–3}}{{cite news |title=Nurse fired by hospital fires back |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2002/jan/17/20020117-034908-2429r/ |accessdate=24 August 2019 |work=The Washington Times |date=January 17, 2002}} These allegations led to a formal investigation by the Illinois Department of Public Health, which stated that the hospital violated no state laws. A Christ Hospital spokesman admitted "that between 10 percent and 20 percent of fetuses with genetic defects that are aborted survive for short periods outside the womb."McKinney, Dave. "Bill proposes care for fetus after abortion." Chicago Sun-Times, March 31, 2001 Shortly thereafter, Advocate Health Care changed its policy on induced labor abortions, barring its use against fetuses with non-lethal developmental issues.Tom McCann. Hospital fires critic of abortion procedure. Chicago Tribune. September 3, 2001 Stanek was fired by Christ Hospital in 2001, for allegedly "taking photographs inside the hospital and misrepresenting the hospital on a television program."

At the signing ceremony for the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act in 2002, President George W. Bush named Stanek in his speech, publicly thanking her for being in attendance."[https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/08/20020805-6.html President Signs Born-Alive Infants Protection Act]," White House press release, August 5, 2002. Accessed May 14, 2009.

Stanek ran for the Republican nomination for the Illinois House of Representatives in 2002, on an anti-abortion platform,{{cite news |last1=McQueary |first1=Kristen |title=Different positions make first race in new 81st District lively |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/538000792/?terms=%22Jill%2BStanek%22 |accessdate=24 August 2019 |work=Southtown Star |date=17 February 2002 |location=Tinley Park, Illinois |page=A6}} but was defeated.Herman, Andrew. "High-profile candidate dives into local race." Chicago Sun-Times, Feb. 14, 2002.

Since 2003, Stanek has been a regular columnist for WorldNetDaily and her analysis and opinions are frequently referenced in the context of the abortion issue.M Parry (2013) Broadcasting Birth Control, Rutgers Univ. Press: Note 31 on page 172 cites quotes on Jill Stanek's blog.K Handel (2012) Planned Bullyhood, Simon & Schuster: Chapter 6 notes 9 and 12 cite comments from Jill Stanek blog.DC Becker (2011) Personhood: A Pragmatic Guide to Prolife Victory in the 21st Century and the Return to First Principles in Politics, TKS Publications: Note 127 on page 165 cites comments on Jill Stanek blog.D Freddoso (2008) The Case Against Barack Obama: The Unlikely Rise and Unexamined Agenda of the Media's Favorite Candidate, Regnery: Chapter 10 page 191 begins with quotes from Stanek.C Vicari (2014) Distortion, Charisma Media: Chapter 2 note 4 (page 198) cites a quote on Jill Stanek's blog.R Byron (2006) Children of a lesser law: The failure of the born-alive infants protection act and a plan for its redemption, Regent University Law Review 19(1): Stanek quotes/statements cited in footnotes 2 through 6, 13, etc. and her testimony is discussed starting on pp 279.

As of 2017, Stanek was the national campaign chair of the Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion organisation.{{cite news |last1=Schmitt |first1=Will |title=Anti-abortion activists criticize McCaskill |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/354208054/?terms=%22Jill%2BStanek%22 |accessdate=24 August 2019 |work=The Springfield News-Leader |date=17 November 2017 |location=Springfield, Missouri |page=A3}}

=Criticism of Barack Obama =

Stanek generated national news during the 2008 Presidential campaign when publicizing Barack Obama's four votes against Illinois' Born Alive Infants Protection Act while state senator, as well as his state senate floor testimony. She posted a vote tally on her blog showing that, during a March 12, 2003, meeting of the Illinois State Senate's Health and Human Services Committee, Committee Chairman Barack Obama prevented the passage of an amendment to Bill 1082 that would have conveyed "the rights of personhood upon any fetus expelled or extracted from the womb if that fetus was capable of breathing or voluntary motion."[http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/aug/21/local/chi-zorn_21aug21 Obama’s rejection of 2003 abortion bill comes to forefront], Eric Zorn, August 21, 2008