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Obama Will Undo Abortion 'Conscience' Provision

Rule helped workers avoid aiding abortions

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 27, 2009 1:58 PM CST

(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 religious beliefs or moral convictions.
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 we have seen a variety of efforts to force Catholic and other health care providers to perform or refer for abortions and sterilizations.
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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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 17 comments
riffran
Mar 2, 2009 9:48 PM CST
well doc, as much as our ideologies clash on politics, you hit the nail on the head here.......... "Maybe if your wife had a pregnancy where the fetus has hydrocephalus and the head increases to the size of a basketball and she would die if she tried to give birth you would change your mind. Somehow I don't think you would"........I may be of a conservative mindset, but in matters of health....I don't buy most of that bullshit.......I don't like abortion, but it's not MY body, and if the mom is in danger from the pregnancy or if it's the product of rape, or incest or other similar conditions....pull the fricken plug.....abortions as a form of birth control???? wellll if they are that stupid to mess with their bodies like that, and possibly make them unable to have a child later in life, let them do what they want, and too bad, its self accountability, but forcing a facility to offer procedures it objects to is wrong....just go somwhere else
Doctor-Zaius
Feb 28, 2009 5:25 AM CST
Republicans feel its a state issue when the states agree with them and when they don't they feel it's a federal issue as long as the federal government is Republican run.
Doctor-Zaius
Feb 27, 2009 9:23 PM CST
Maybe if your wife had a pregnancy where the fetus has hydrocephalus and the head increases to the size of a basketball and she would die if she tried to give birth you would change your mind. Somehow I don't think you would.

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