Broader medical refusal rule may go far beyond abortion

[SemiCharmedQuark]

The Bush administration plans a new 'right of conscience' rule that would allow more workers to refuse more procedures. Critics say it could apply to artificial insemination and birth control.
By David G. Savage
December 2, 2008

Reporting from Washington -- The outgoing Bush administration is planning to announce a broad new "right of conscience" rule permitting medical facilities, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare workers to refuse to participate in any procedure they find morally objectionable, including abortion and possibly even artificial insemination and birth control.For more than 30 years, federal law has dictated that doctors and nurses may refuse to perform abortions. The new rule would go further by making clear that healthcare workers also may refuse to provide information or advice to patients who might want an abortion.

...

Proponents, including the Christian Medical Assn. and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, say the rule is not limited to abortion. It will protect doctors who do not wish to prescribe birth control or to provide artificial insemination, said Dr. David Stevens, president of CMA."The real battle line is the morning-after pill," he said. "This prevents the embryo from implanting. This involves moral complicity. Doctors should not be required to dispense a medication they have a moral objection to."

...

Critics of the rule say it will sacrifice patients' health to the religious beliefs of providers.
The American Medical Assn. and the American Hospital Assn. in October urged HHS to drop the regulation. The Planned Parenthood Foundation and other backers of abortion rights condemned the rule as a last-gasp effort by the Bush administration to please social conservatives.
"It's unconscionable that the Bush administration, while promising a smooth transition, would take a final opportunity to politicize women's health," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood.

...

Last year, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology said a "patient's well-being must be paramount" when a conflict arises over a medical professional's beliefs. In calling for limits on “conscientious refusals,” ACOG cited four recent examples. In Texas, a pharmacist rejected a rape victim's prescription for emergency contraception. In Virginia, a 42-year-old mother of two became pregnant after being refused emergency contraception. In California, a physician refused to perform artificial insemination for a lesbian couple. (In August, the California Supreme Court ruled that this refusal amounted to illegal discrimination based on sexual orientation.) And in Nebraska, a 19-year-old with a life-threatening embolism was refused an early abortion at a religiously affiliated hospital.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-na-conscience2-2008dec02,0,1244120.story

[izquierdista]

1. Second class medical providers

I don't have a problem with these rules, provided that they agree not to falsely advertise themselves as clinics, hospitals, and medical professionals, and instead have to display warning signs that they are chapels, churches, and faith healers. Oh, and since they are religious institutions, they won't be needing any government support like being able to bill Medicare for their prayer sessions.

[MountainLaurel]

4. Excellent point

I think the ramifications go far beyond reproductive health. What if the only therapist your insurance will pay for is a fundangelical who got a "counseling" degree from Liberty University and doesn't think mental illness exists? Or what happens when an emergency room doc won't treat a gay man for AIDS-related pneumonia because his disease is a punishment from Gawd?

[Robbien]

2. Religious fanatics in control of medical access

Really scary stuff.

[tabbycat31]

3. if your religion prohibits you from issuing medical treatment

then you are in the wrong job. I compare this to a vegan working at a steakhouse.

[hunter]

5. "God is punishing you, especially if you had sex. Next..."

See how easy medicine is when you believe in God?

[Jamastiene]

6. That sword could cut both ways.

Not that anyone ever would refuse to provide an artificial insemination procedure based on the principle that we already have enough fucking right wing nuts in the world.

It would be a golden opportunity to give them a taste of their own medicine.