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Pro-Life Health Workers Fight for Conscience Protections
The Washington Times
April 10, 2009
President Obama’s campaign promise to dismantle new conscience protections for health care professionals could let governments and medical institutions threaten the careers of pro-lifers who refuse involvement with abortion and contraception issues, a pro-life medical coalition said yesterday.
About 40 doctors, medical students, nurses and lab technicians — all dressed in white lab coats — lined up at the National Press Club on Wednesday to dramatize their opposition to rescinding the extra protections put into place last December by President Bush.
“In some states, pharmacists must dispense certain medications or lose their licenses,” said Dr. David Stevens, CEO of the 15,000-member Christian Medical and Dental Associations, which is a pro-life organization. “Students are denied admission to medical schools or residency programs because they are not in favor of abortion. Doctors and nurses are losing their job or a promotion because of their beliefs.”
Dr. Stevens added that 23 percent of association members report job discrimination because of their beliefs and that “many” are not entering the obstetrics field for fear they will be forced to perform abortions.
In a worst-case scenario drawn by Dr. Stevens — pro-lifers and churches abandoning the medical field entirely — up to one-third of the nation’s hospitals could close and “hundreds of thousands” of people could leave their jobs.
His figure of one-third of America’s hospitals includes the nation’s 615 Roman Catholic hospitals (about one-sixth of the national figure) plus a variety of medical centers operated by conservative Protestant groups. Some Catholic bishops have hinted at closing their hospitals rather than comply with government mandates on abortion and contraception they deem morally unacceptable.
He also figured in hospitals having to close from resulting staff shortages if pro-lifers refuse to enter the medical profession.
The National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association backs rescinding the Bush rule, saying it also gives immunity to health care workers who refuse to supply contraception because of their religious beliefs.
JCHaftlRNBSN
7 months ago
4 comments
If you are a health professional, you can NOT impose your beliefs on your patient, PERIOD. If you are that narrow minded...change your career. Your patient is seeking your help, not a morality lecture. If a patient is raped, you are legally obligated to offer all available options. If you have objections to offering "plan B", ask a colleague to take over the care of your patient. My concern about medical personnel imposing their belief systems on others also extends to other matters: Do you avoid caring for AIDs patients because YOU believe homosexuality is wrong? ,
Do you avoid caring for prostitutes because YOU believe sex out of wedlock is wrong? , the list goes on. In medicine and nursing, we need to be neutral. Treat All patients to the best of your expertise, they most certainly want comfort, not a lecture on Catholicism. Leave your religious and political beliefs at home, before you go to work....if you cannot then you should change fields or be fired. PS: If I were raped...NO WAY would I ever go to a Catholic hospital, too scary. Universal health care: BRING IT ON!!!!!
sodiumx
7 months ago
2 comments
"He also figured in hospitals having to close from resulting staff shortages if pro-lifers refuse to enter the medical profession."
Can't see this being as big of a problem as they apparently think. Atleast right now the times are hard enough that there will be plenty of people ready to take up the spots of all these bible thumpers that decide to leave the medical field.
bjbakrn
7 months ago
2 comments
The most dangerous place for a baby these days is in it's mother's womb!
What happened to the medical concept, "First, DO NO HARM"?
And where did the quote, "Life, Liberty and the Persuit of Happiness" come from?
If it's all about choices, where's mine?