Arkansas Department of Health v. Westark Christian Action Council

Robert L. Brown, Justice.

The issue in this appeal is whether certain reports of aborted pregnancies are either “medical records” or “vital records” and, thus, exempt from the requirements of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which is codified at Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 to 107 (Repl. 1992, Supp. 1993). Appellants Arkansas Department of Health; Sandra B. Nichols, Director; and Henry C. Robinson, Director and State Registrar of the Division of Vital Records (jointly referred to as Health Department) appeal from a judgment of the circuit court ordering the release of these…