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 …