Prolife Ob-Gyn files lawsuit against Gov Rauner, claims new law stifles freedom of conscience

Dr. Anthony Caruso is one of the plaintiffs in lawsuit
 filed against Governor Rauner

An Illinois doctor and two pregnancy care centers filed suit in state court against Gov. Bruce Rauner Friday after he signed a bill into law that forces doctors and medical facilities to promote controversial health care procedures, regardless of their ethical or moral views on the practice.

The Alliance Defending Freedom is representing the plaintiffs, including Dr. Anthony Caruso, who practices medicine in Downers Grove at the Bella Baby OBGYN center, as well as the Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford and Aid for Women, a Chicago non-profit that runs six pregnancy help centers and two residential programs, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.

ADF sent a letter to Rauner in May on behalf of numerous pro-life physicians, pregnancy care centers, and pregnancy care center network organizations advising him that the bill, SB 1564, would violate federal law and therefore place federal funding, including Medicaid reimbursements, in jeopardy. ADF also warned legislators about the problems with the bill last year. The lawsuit claims the new law, which is actually an amendment to the existing Illinois Healthcare Right of Conscience Act, violates state law and the state constitution.

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