Over a dozen states are considering preparing legislation that would allow health care workers to opt out of treating people/situations with which they disagree on moral grounds:
About half of the proposals would shield pharmacists who refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control and "morning-after" pills because they believe the drugs cause abortions. But many are far broader measures that would shelter a doctor, nurse, aide, technician or other employee who objects to any therapy. That might include in-vitro fertilization, physician-assisted suicide, embryonic stem cells and perhaps even providing treatment to gays and lesbians.
THIS is stunning. A health care worker could opt out of providing treatment to gays and lesbians if they did not approve of their lifestyle?? And they can do this for RELIGIOUS reasons?? Do they even see their hypocrisy, and their lack of love for their fellow man?
More extremism below:
It's already a very hot issue," said Edward R. Martin Jr. of the Americans United for Life, who is advising legislators around the country pushing such bills. "I think it's going to get even hotter, for lots of reasons and in lots of places." (snip)
"This goes to the core of what it means to be an American," said David Stevens, executive director of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations. "Conscience is the most sacred of all property. Doctors, dentists, nurses and other health care workers should not be forced to violate their consciences."
Now, what possible treatment might a dentist be performing that might violate his conscience? Oh, you mean treat a gay person?? Sure, you don't have to take care of gays, you disagree with what they do in the privacy of their own bedrooms? And stem cell research?? Have the republicans really gotten such a tin ear?
Thankfully, some people are fighting against this, but it is really nutty. Check this out - a doctor could refuse to tell a patient their child is due for a chicken pox vaccine and be protected under these laws:
"The so-called right-to-life movement in the United States has expanded its agenda way beyond the original focus on abortion," Uttley said. "Given the political power of religious conservatives, the impact of a whole range of patient services could be in danger."
Doctors opposed to fetal tissue research, for example, could refuse to notify parents that their child was due for a chicken pox inoculation because the vaccine was originally produced using fetal tissue cell cultures, said R. Alto Charo, a bioethicist at the University of Wisconsin.
"That physician would be immunized from medical malpractice claims and state disciplinary action," Charo said.
Entire story here;
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
I need to pay attention to this. This is really religious views oozing into public life.
