Washington D.C., Feb 21, 2011 / 13:28 pm
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has condemned the withdrawal of federal protections for medical workers who oppose certain treatments on moral grounds.
Deirdre McQuade, Assistant Director for Policy and Communications at the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, said on Feb. 18 that it was “very disappointing” for the Obama administration to “eliminate much of the existing regulation on conscience” issued in 2008.
The new rule maintains protections for medical workers who oppose abortion and sterilization. However, it removes many other similar provisions – such as those pertaining to in vitro fertilization, contraception (including abortifacient chemical contraceptives), and other morally controversial areas of medicine.
“The final rule issued today eliminates important clarifications that would have helped in interpreting and enforcing longstanding federal statutes protecting the conscience rights of health care providers,” McQuade noted. “It also eliminates a regulatory requirement that recipients of federal funds certify compliance with those statutes.”