Leave a Comment

Bush issues health care 'conscience' rule
Daily Kos — Oh, yes, he did, damn his soul: The Bush administration today issued a sweeping new regulation that protects a broad range of health care workers -- from doctors to janitors -- who refuse to participate in providing services that they believe violates their personal, moral or religious beliefs. The controversial rule empowers federal health officials to cut off federal funding for any state or local government, hospital, clinic, health plan, doctors' office or other entity if they do not accommodate employees who exercise their "right of ...

I Never Should Have Gotten out of Bed This Morning
Shakesville — The HHS Rule Change that puts women's access to basic healthcare in jeopardy by allowing providers, based on their personal biases, to withhold both services and information women need to make fully informed decisions about their healthcare, has officially been made by the Bush administration, as of today, and will go into effect in 30 days. ...

New Rule Protects Health-Care Workers' 'Right of Conscience'
Democratic Underground Latest Breaking News — ... just in time to take effect in the 30 days before the change of administrations, was sought by conservative groups, abortion opponents and others as necessary to safeguard workers from being fired, disciplined or penalized in other ways. ... Although the Obama administration could reverse the rule, it would require a lengthy process. Last month, however, Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced a bill to repeal the regulation legislatively. Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

Rule Protects Workers Who Deny Care That Violates Beliefs
Democratic Underground Latest Breaking News — ... groups, abortion opponents and others to safeguard workers from being fired, disciplined or penalized in other ways. But women's health advocates, family planning proponents, abortion rights activists and some members of Congress condemned the regulation, saying it will be a major obstacle to providing many health services, including abortion, family planning, infertility treatment, and end-of-life care, as well as possibly a wide range of scientific research. Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

Are Democrats Really Against Following Your Conscience?
Stones Cry Out — ... Last December, the Bush administration granted protection to health care workers who refused to perform certain procedures on moral grounds.  If a hospital, health plan or clinic didn’t accommodate the consciences of their employees, they’d lose federal funding.  Abortion rights activists proceeded to take the low road. ...