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.”
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops was strongly supportive of the 2008 rule. McQuade hailed
it at the time as a “much-needed implementation of long-standing
laws,” which would provide important clarification as to what existing
laws meant and how they would be enforced.
But Kathleen Sebelius, President Obama's Secretary for Health and
Human Services, called the previous guidelines “unclear and potentially
overly broad in scope” in her explanation of the new rules.
Although the laws that were implemented through the 2008 rule will
remain on the books, caregivers seeking to register a conscientious
objection – or show that their rights were violated – may have a
significantly harder time proving their case or getting a hearing in the
future.
However, some of the mechanisms for enforcing caregivers' established
rights will remain in place. McQuade said that move offered “reasons
for hope” despite the “disappointment” of the new guidelines.
“The Administration says it will take initiative to increase
awareness of the conscience statutes, work to ensure compliance with
them, and require that government grants make clear that compliance is
required,” McQuade noted.
“We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to
ensure that these endeavors are carried out, so providers receive the
full conscience protection they are due.”
McQuade also reiterated the bishops' hope that the Obama
administration would “place its full support behind efforts in Congress
to clarify conscience protections and make them more secure” through
initiatives such as the Protect Life Act, the No Taxpayer Funding for
Abortion Act, and the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act.