Washington D.C., Dec 12, 2007 / 09:55 am
An association of Christian doctors has harshly criticized a national organization of obstetricians for supporting ethical codes that will force pro-life physicians to violate their consciences by referring patients to other doctors for abortions.
Leaders of the Christian Medical Association(CMA), representing 15,000 members, challenged a statement made by an ethics committee of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists(ACOG) that examined physicians’ rights of conscience.
The ACOG Committee of Ethics’ position paper, titled "The Limits of Conscientious Refusal in Reproductive Medicine," targets pro-life physicians. It insists that doctors who object to abortion must refer a patient to a physician who will perform abortions. The statement also says doctors with conscientious objections to providing other procedures and prescriptions should move closer to doctors who do not have such objections.
The Christian Medical Association in protest drafted a letter that was signed by other national organizations.