11.   Norwood and his coalition counter that only a credible threat of lawsuits will ensure that HMOs respect patient rights.

12.   The case, possibly the first of its kind, has drawn the attention of the medical community, employers and patient rights groups.

13.   The effort to change the law has heightened concerns among patient rights advocates and former patients who worry that it could erode the rights of the mentally ill.

14.   They are at the center of a debate in Congress over patient rights.

15.   Those are the contradictory messages being peddled across the nation this month as powerful special interests jockey for an advantage in the fight over patient rights legislation.

16.   Participants at the conference are to discuss vaccines, access to medication, patient rights, prevention and discrimination.

17.   Participants at the conference were discussing vaccines, access to medication, patient rights, prevention and discrimination.

18.   Advocates say it puts the Dutch in the vanguard of patient rights, and opponents say it will replace caring with killing.

19.   Advocates say the law puts the Dutch in the vanguard of patient rights, while opponents say it will replace caring with killing.

20.   Democrats also said they would consider deferring to state patient rights laws if those laws afford greater protections than federal legislation.