Northwestern Memorial Hospital v. John Ashcroft, Attorney General of the United States

POSNER, Circuit Judge!

The government appeals from an order by the district court quashing a subpoena commanding Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago to produce the medical records of certain patients on whom Dr. Cassing Hammond had performed late-term abortions at the hospital using the controversial method known variously as “D & X” (dilation and extraction) and “intact D & E” (dilation and evacuation). We accelerated briefing and argument, and now accelerate our decision, in view of the pressures of time discussed later in the opinion.

The subpoenaed records, apparently some 45 in…