Published 30 September 2008, doi:10.1136/bmj.a1889
Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a1889

News

US health groups protest against proposed government "conscience rule"

Janice Hopkins Tanne

1 New York

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Leading US medical, religious, political, and reproductive health groups have sent letters to the federal Department of Health and Human Services objecting to a proposed rule regarding conscientious objection. The rule, issued in August, would protect healthcare workers from discrimination if they refused to participate in medical care to which they had religious or moral objections (BMJ 2008;337:a1509, doi:10.1136/bmj.a1509).

The rule focused on abortion, which it did not define. However, the rule would also protect healthcare workers who objected to any type of care. They would not be required to counsel or refer patients to health providers who offered such care.

Healthcare providers that don’t comply with the ruling could lose federal funding, face penalties, or be forced to return funds if they were found to discriminate.

Objections have come from the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Government ruling would protect US healthcare workers who object to abortion
Janice Hopkins Tanne
BMJ 2008 337: a1509. [Extract] [Full Text]

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