Another Bush hit-and-run: Rule Shields Health Workers Who Withhold Care Based on Beliefs

WP: Rule Shields Health Workers Who Withhold Care Based on Beliefs
By Rob Stein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 19, 2008; Page A10

The Bush administration yesterday granted sweeping new protections to health workers who refuse to provide care that violates their personal beliefs, setting off an intense battle over opponents' plans to try to repeal the measure.

Critics began consulting with the incoming Obama administration on strategies to reverse the regulation as quickly as possible while supporters started mobilizing to fight such efforts.

The far-reaching regulation cuts off federal funding for any state or local government, hospital, health plan, clinic or other entity that does not accommodate doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other employees who refuse to participate in care they find ethically, morally or religiously objectionable. It was sought by conservative groups, abortion opponents and others to safeguard workers from being fired, disciplined or penalized in other ways.

But women's health advocates, family planning proponents, abortion rights activists and some members of Congress condemned the regulation, saying it will be a major obstacle to providing many health services, including abortion, family planning, infertility treatment, and end-of-life care, as well as possibly a wide range of scientific research.

The 127-page rule, which was issued just in time to take effect in the 30 days before the change in administrations, is the latest that the administration is implementing before President Bush's term ends....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/18/AR2008121801556.html?nav=most_emailed

Seriously, read the stupid thing.

Beyond the anti-woman stuff, the larger implications... huge. Almost unlimited, actually.

Idiots.

Chimp can't legislate by regulation. Regulations are only to carry out the enforcement of statutes. This has to be allowed in some statute somewhere, or Chimpy can't do it. Not that the Decider would respect all those legalisms!

"This gives an open invitation to any doctor, nurse, receptionist, insurance plan or even hospital to refuse to provide information about birth control on the grounds that they believe contraception amounts to abortion," lawyers for the National Women's Law Center said.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/politics/bal-te.abortion19dec19,0,1100701.story

And the M$M dutifully reports it as the smoke and mirrors of abortion rights?

not surprised. Appalled.. but totally not surprised.

I hope there is a quick way to undue this. I can only imagine being 4 months pregnant and rushed into an OR about to bleed to death, and find out that the only way you can survive is if you have an emergency abortion - and the only doctor on staff doesn't feel it's ethically right to do it.

So, the last thing you get to see is your husband crying his eyes out, and the last thing you think about is your 2 other children sleeping at home who won't ever get to see you again.

Thanks George. Fuck YOU.