President Bush has decided to leave us a nice little legacy with his 'right of conscience' rule that protects health care workers who refuse to provide certain medical services because of their religious beliefs. According to the Washington Post:
The rule, which will cost more than $44 million to implement, gives more than 584,000 health-care organizations until Oct. 1 to provide written certification of their compliance. Those that do not comply face having their funding cut off or being required to return funding they have received.
Not only does it apply to those doctors, nurses, techs, janitors, and secretaries who are opposed to abortion, but they now also have the federally-enforced right to refuse to dispense Plan B emergency contraceptives or even birth control pills, provide infertility treatments to single women or lesbian couples, and any other form of contraception that is equated to abortion in their personal opinions. It also can provide protection for health-care providers who oppose certain types of end-of-life care or withdrawal of care. While laws provided protection for these employees since the 1970s, never has the government forced employers to allow their employees to withhold care or treatment due to a nonmedical judgement. This could even stretch to ban abortion clinics from not hiring people who oppose some aspect of the services provided.
In one corner, we have the Family Research Council, Christian Medical Association, Concerned Women for America, US Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Catholic Health Association. In the other corner, with have the American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Hospital Association (not to mention Planned Parenthood, NARAL, 28 senators and 110 House representatives, and more than 12 state attorneys general). Call me crazy, but shouldn't the AMA, ACOG, and AHA have more credibility?
So, when I feel like the world has been pulled closer to the dark side, I give what I can. One of the great non-profit organizations is the Lilith Fund. It provides direct financial assistance and counseling to women seeking abortions, as well as education and outreach about reproductive rights. Abortions can cost over $1,000, making it extremely difficult for lower socioeconomic statused women to obtain them.
And of course, you can always donate to Planned Parenthood. If anyone has any other favorite organizations that promote reproductive rights, let me know and I'll link to it.
No comments:
Post a Comment