Senate May Vote Thursday on Abortion-Conscience Rights for Medical Staff

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Apr 1, 2009   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Senate May Vote Thursday on Abortion-Conscience Rights for Medical Staff

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 1
, 2009

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The Senate will vote on Thursday on an amendment that would keep the conscience rights and protections in place for medical staff and centers. A pro-life senator is proposing an amendment to the federal budget similar to the Provider Conscience Clause that will protect the rights of health workers.

President Bush put the provision into place to provide more enforcement for the three federal laws that make it so medical professionals and facilities are not required to do abortions.

However, President Obama has proposed overturning those conscience protections and will likely do so after a 30-day public comment window expires on April 9.

Not wanting to see that happen, Sen Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, is sponsoring an amendment on Thursday that would protect the right of conscience for health care workers.

His budget amendment "ensures that the funds made available through the budget’s health care reserve fund will not be used to violate the conscience of health care providers."

Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life women’s group, tells LifeNews.com the amendment is worthy of support.

"This amendment is crucial in our fight to protect doctors and nurses around the country from being discriminated against for refusing to participate in abortions and other medical procedures that violate their conscience," she said.

Despite federal laws protecting health care workers from having to participate in abortions, Dannenfelser says she knows of examples of that happening.

Sadly we have already seen cases of discrimination. For example in 2008 a nurse was forced to leave two different hospitals because she refused to sign a form pledging to assist in abortions," she said.

Dannenfelser said her group is calling on pro-life advocates to call their senators and urge support for the Coburn amendment.

ACTION: Contact your two U.S. senators and urge strong support for the Coburn amendment. Call 202-224-3121 to connect with any senator’s office or visit https://www.Senate.gov

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