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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Obama Will Undo Abortion 'Conscience' Provision

Rule helped workers avoid aiding abortions

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(Newser) – The Obama White House plans to overturn protections that President Bush extended to health workers who refuse to perform abortions or other procedures on moral grounds, the New York Times reports. Bush’s last-minute “conscience regulation” took effect on Obama’s first day in office, and now, after a 30-day public comment period, the regulation can be modified or abolished.

Catholic groups applauded the rule, but opponents, including the American Medical Association, said it could violate state laws and added that federal legislation already offers protection from religion-based discrimination. “Today’s action by the Obama administration demonstrates that this president is not going to stand by and let women’s health be placed in jeopardy,” said the president of Planned Parenthood.

The Bush rule prohibits discrimination against doctors, nurses and other health care workers who refuse to perform procedures because of their
The Bush rule prohibits discrimination against doctors, nurses and other health care workers who refuse to perform procedures because of their "religious beliefs or moral convictions."   (AP Photo)
Praising the Bush rule, one advocate said in recent years
Praising the Bush rule, one advocate said in recent years "we have seen a variety of efforts to force Catholic and other health care providers to perform or refer for abortions and sterilizations."   (Shutter Stock)
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We have seen a variety of efforts to force Catholic and other health care providers to perform or refer for abortions and sterilizations. - Sister Carol Keehan, president of the Catholic Health Association

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17 comments
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Thinker
Feb 27, 09 2:52 PM CST
If you can't do a job due to religious beliefs, DON'T TAKE THE JOB. You are responsible for performing certain tasks as a professional, and you have no right to define what you will or won't do once you take on that responsibility. Find something else that you feel comfortable doing, but don't hurt others who do not share your beliefs. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
aether
Feb 27, 09 4:35 PM CST
Unfortunately your logic does not work, as the job of the doctor is to DO NO HARM. What right to you have to define what doing harm is? Catholic hospitals treat over 85 million people a year in this country and this bill would certainly make them shut their doors. Course, Obama may just nationalize hospitals, too. For the common good, of course. Welcome to the USSA.
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IN RESPONSE:
radnip
Feb 27, 09 7:38 PM CST
Yeah, do no harm. Let's have more babies! Everyone else has been taken care of so what're a few more mouths?
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IN RESPONSE:
Toon
Feb 27, 09 7:43 PM CST
aether, Bush's rule would have allowed any hospital worker to deny services on moral grounds. Should every file clerk and nurse's aid be able to see medical records they may or may not have a full understanding of and pick and chose which women are worthy of which procedures? Should medical workers who oppose abortion even in cases like ectopic pregnancies also be allowed to veto health care? Your politics blind your logic if you think it does not harm to let the uninformed make medical decisions based on theology.
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Doctor_Zaius
Feb 27, 09 4:35 PM CST
This always struck me as kind of dumb. Why go into the field if there are procedures you object to on moral grounds? Reply
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