Should last until the first week of the next Presidency…
Medical ‘Conscience Rule’ Is Issued
By DAVID STOUT
Published: December 18, 2008
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration, as expected, announced new protections on Thursday for health care providers who oppose abortion and other medical procedures on religious or moral grounds.
“Doctors and other health care providers should not be forced to choose between good professional standing and violating their conscience,” Michael O. Leavitt, the secretary of Health and Human Services, said in a statement on his department’s Web site.
The rule prohibits recipients of federal money from discriminating against doctors, nurses and health care aides who refuse to take part in procedures because of their convictions, and it bars hospitals, clinics, doctors’ office and pharmacies from forcing their employees to assist in programs and activities financed by the department.
As predicted.
I cant wait for the onslaught of women with no prenatal care showing up in active labor to the EDs of Catholic hospitals with their attorneys in tow demanding late term abortions and citing EMTALA as the reason that they should not be transfered and then suing becuase the hospital refuses their requests.