In parts of the United States, conscience clauses exist within health care laws that permit medical care workers to refuse performing procedures that breach their religious values. Critics of the clause believe that a doctor can’t refuse to treat a patient if that treatment can conserve a life. The Hippocratic Oath compels medical professionals to treat individuals fairly and without bias. Now several of those workers will no longer be able to site the conscience terms, reports the Washington Post. Obama’s reworking of the clause strips out many of the protections written in by the last Bush administration. People take out short term cash for health care, and do not expect their doctor’s spiritual beliefs to get in the way of their health care.
Conscience clause was something George W. Bush put in
During President Bush’s final days in office, a conscience clause was inserted into laws pertaining to medical care workers. There were many concerns stated by the Bush administration as to why the conscience terms were submitted. These involved giving single women birth control, treating homosexual patients and giving emergency contraception.
According to the Obama administration, the rules are "unclear and potentially over-broad in scope." The new version of the conscience clause, which goes into impact in 30 days, removes the above exceptions however maintains long-standing federal protection for those medical care workers who refuse on conscience/religious grounds to perform abortions and sterilizations. There was not any change in the process through which medical care workers can file complaints.
The easiest method to regulate federal funds
Under the Bush regulations, federal money to state and local governments, hospitals, health plans and clinics were cut off if the organizations didn’t accommodate medical care workers who exercised religious conscience in declining to perform procedures.
You will find clearer definitions of the conscience law with Obama though. There has been more attention put on women's health. The new regulation makes it much easier to get abortions, contraceptive and fertility treatments. The roadblocks are taken away.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services made a statement about what Obama did:
"The administration strongly supports provider conscience laws that protect and support the rights of health care providers, and also recognizes and supports the rights of patients. … The rule being issued today builds on these laws by providing a clear enforcement process."
Citations
OFR
ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-03993_PI.pdf
Washington Post
washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/18/AR2011021803251.html?wpisrc=nl_natlalert
Wikimedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscience_clause_%28medical%29
Lou Dobbs’ story on the conscience clause
youtube.com/watch?v=Ge4k6IjERkQ
No comments:
Post a Comment