USCCB welcomes conscience protections for health care workers

Published: 2008-08-25

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The rights of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel who do not want to be involved in abortion and sterilization procedures for religious or moral reasons would get a boost under new rules proposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Announced Aug. 21, the regulations are designed to increase awareness of three laws already on the books, the first dating to 1973, regarding conscience protection for health care workers. Hospitals and other health care institutions that receive federal funds would be covered by the regulations as well. "The proposed regulations are absolutely essential," said Deirdre McQuade, assistant director for policy and communications in the Office of Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "These regulations are implementing long-standing laws on the books. They're not expanding those laws, they're not changing them, they're not introducing new material except to raise awareness about their existence." The rules would cover a wide range of activities, from full-scale participation in a procedure to the cleaning of instruments afterward, McQuade explained.

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