Disclaimer: While I favor a woman's right to prevent becoming pregnant, I'm not in favor of ending the life of an unborn child -- especially since _I_was_ the product of an unwanted pregnancy. And I might have been aborted, if it were legal at the time. So that's where I'm coming from ...
This proposed rule change (http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2008pres/08/20080821reg.pdf) is streamlining/clarifying existing rules/laws -- ones that say you can't _force_ a medical professional to perform abortions.
It's worth noting that the Hippocratic Oath includes "I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy" ... kind of odd we think we should force someone to commit one of those acts now.
They clearly state it's not about stopping abortions; it's about not firing someone if they personally refuse to do it. And really, why would someone go to work at an abortion provider, if they weren't willing to perform abortions in the first place?
The current proposal also includes not discriminating against health professionals for choosing not to perform sterilizations. I'm all for voluntary, informed sterilization! But I don't think some hosptial nurse should get fired, if they tell their department head "I don't want to be involved in sterilizing people, but want to perform all the other duties of this position".
I see a mile of difference between "the State is once again outlawing abortions", and "the State is allowing doctors to choose whether or not they perform abortions, on an individual basis".
no subject
This proposed rule change (http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2008pres/08/20080821reg.pdf) is streamlining/clarifying existing rules/laws -- ones that say you can't _force_ a medical professional to perform abortions.
It's worth noting that the Hippocratic Oath includes "I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy" ... kind of odd we think we should force someone to commit one of those acts now.
They clearly state it's not about stopping abortions; it's about not firing someone if they personally refuse to do it. And really, why would someone go to work at an abortion provider, if they weren't willing to perform abortions in the first place?
The current proposal also includes not discriminating against health professionals for choosing not to perform sterilizations. I'm all for voluntary, informed sterilization! But I don't think some hosptial nurse should get fired, if they tell their department head "I don't want to be involved in sterilizing people, but want to perform all the other duties of this position".
I see a mile of difference between "the State is once again outlawing abortions", and "the State is allowing doctors to choose whether or not they perform abortions, on an individual basis".