'Conscience' rule on abortions may be overturned

[babylonsister]

:applause:


'Conscience' rule on abortions may be overturned

The Obama administration wants to clarify a Bush policy that lets healthcare workers deny services because of moral beliefs.

By Noam N. Levey
February 27, 2009


Reporting from Washington -- Taking another step into the abortion debate, the Obama administration today will move to rescind a controversial rule that allows healthcare workers to deny abortion counseling or other family planning services if doing so would violate their moral beliefs, according to administration officials.

The rollback of the so-called conscience rule comes just two months after the Bush administration announced it late last year in one of its final policy initiatives.

The new administration's action seems certain to stoke ideological battles between supporters and opponents of abortion rights over the responsibilities of doctors, nurses and other medical workers to their patients.

Seven states, including California, Illinois and Connecticut, and two family-planning groups have filed lawsuits challenging the Bush rule. They argue that it sacrifices the health of patients to the religious beliefs of medical providers.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has reported cases, such as that of a Virginia mother of two who became pregnant after she was denied emergency contraception. In Texas, according to the group, a rape victim had her prescription for emergency contraception rejected by a pharmacist.

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-conscience27-2009feb27,0,6549166.story

[T Wolf]

1. It is against my conscience to provide medical care to any republican. I demand that my beliefs

be respected.

[havocmom]

2. If I were a fireman....

an ambulance driver, a teacher, a worker in any office.....

It's always been simple: if you are morally opposed to something, don't do it. If you don't like something, don't take a job where that would be part of the duties.

Glad to see we are heading back to some sane management of occupations v any given person's self chosen moral dilemmas.

[rocktivity]

3. CUE THE VONAGE THEME!

:woohoo:
Well, duh--it's only as unconstitutional as hell. It's not okay to be forced to go against your religious convictions, but it's okay to effectively force your religious convictions upon someone else?

:crazy:
rocktivity

[ColesCountyDem]

4. It's about time!

My father was a small town general practicioner whose practice was about 25% obstetrics and 25% pediatrics. If asked outside of a professional setting what he personally thought about teenagers having babies, or multiple 'baby daddy'/'baby momma' situations, etc., he could turn the air blue. As a medical professional, however, he delivered the most competent, courteous and sensitive care possible.

So should everyone else.

[babylonsister]

5. Huh?

Idiot son passed this in the fall of 08 iirc, so I'm happy at the speed this was or will be reversed.

[ColesCountyDem]

6. And I'm agreeing with you.

It should been overturned about Jan. 21st, 2009, is all I'm saying...

[babylonsister]

8. OK, agreed. I know Hillary Clinton and Patty Murray

were both all over this when idiot son first put this through. Glad to see action finally, too.

[Hissyspit]

7. kick nt

[OhioChick]

9. K&R

:kick:

[immoderate]

10. Good. This rule really pissed me off.

--imm

[liberalsince1968]

11. WTF is Obama being so WISHY WASHY about this? RESCIND the damn thing, already!!!!