Healthcare professionals are awaiting the outcome of the Obama administration's effort to void conscience protections.
Conscience protections allow medical professionals to refuse to provide abortions, handle abortion-causing drugs, or participate in euthanasia. Dr. David Stevens, CEO of the Christian Medical Association (CMA), reports that the regulations that back up current law were written during the Bush administration, but that the Obama administration has filed documents admitting its hopes of repealing those protections.
"We just recently received word that [sometime] in February, they're likely going to overturn those regulations. That's a great concern to every person in this country because it could literally drive Christian healthcare professionals out of medicine," Dr. Stevens warns.
Meanwhile, such a decision would also affect consumers as Christian patients might no longer be able to choose doctors of faith. The CMA chief executive officer believes that would be a mistake because many people prefer medical personnel who share their worldviews.
"So we're very concerned. We and 50 other organizations are trying to fight this tooth and nail because this right to practice your religion is guaranteed in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, and it would be a tragedy for our country that would not only affect healthcare professionals, but ultimately affect everyone in this country," he suggests.
Without conscience regulations, Stevens concludes there would be discrimination in education and employment. He points out, however, that such bias is already taking place because the Obama administration is not enforcing the current rules.
Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow
Publish Date: January 4, 2011
