I wish this were only about abortion. Ironically, it would be so much simpler. But it's not.
This law would allow anyone employed by a medical institution (from the doctors down to the janitors) to refuse any or all actions and treatments for any reason, and would forbid them from suffering any consequences for their actions.
This includes: A woman has Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, a condition in which her ovarian cysts could erupt. Her condition requires a prescription hormone drug that also happens to be a contraceptive. The only pharmacist in town refuses to prescribe it, and her state expressly forbids crossing state lines for medical treatment. Despite the fact that he is endangering her health, the pharmacy may not fire him.
A man is diabetic. The only pharmacist in town is a vegan, and she refuses to prescribe insulin because it is made with animal products. Despite the fact that she is endangering his health, the pharmacy may not fire her.
A woman has been in a car accident and requires emergency care. A doctor who is of a fundamentalist Middle Eastern faith refuses to treat her because his religion dictates he must not touch a woman not his wife. Despite the fact that he is endangering her health, the hospital may not terminate him.
A pharmacist has recently converted to the Christian Scientist faith. She refuses to dispense any and all prescriptions, and instead advises her patients on the value of prayer. The pharmacy may not terminate her.
In any other profession, especially other professions of life-and-death, we would not stand for this. We would not allow a Jewish policeman to refuse help to a crime victim who happened to be an Arab or a Christian. We would not allow a female firefighter to refuse to put out a fire in a building that housed a men's club, or a firefighter who was a member of PETA to refuse to put out a fire in a medical research lab. Such failures to act, though based on conscience, would be investigated, and almost certainly disciplined, because they endangered lives. But this rule would expressly forbid any consequences or discipline toward anyone in the medical industry who endangered lives in a similar manner.
If a doctor doesn't agree with contraception or abortion, they should have gone into podiatry, or dermatology, or proctology, or cardiology, or neurology, or pretty much ANY specialization other than OB/GYN.
Even so, this isn't a law that would protect you from being required to take a life. This is a law that would say, you personally, as a nurse, are allowed to refuse to give a blood transfusion because you believe they are sinful, or refuse care to a Muslim because you dislike how his religion treats women, or refuse emergency care to a gunshot wound victim because he's a criminal, or refuse ANY care to pretty much anyone on the basis of your conscience, and the hospital or clinic that employs you is not allowed to fire you for that.
no subject
This law would allow anyone employed by a medical institution (from the doctors down to the janitors) to refuse any or all actions and treatments for any reason, and would forbid them from suffering any consequences for their actions.
This includes:
A woman has Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, a condition in which her ovarian cysts could erupt. Her condition requires a prescription hormone drug that also happens to be a contraceptive. The only pharmacist in town refuses to prescribe it, and her state expressly forbids crossing state lines for medical treatment. Despite the fact that he is endangering her health, the pharmacy may not fire him.
A man is diabetic. The only pharmacist in town is a vegan, and she refuses to prescribe insulin because it is made with animal products. Despite the fact that she is endangering his health, the pharmacy may not fire her.
A woman has been in a car accident and requires emergency care. A doctor who is of a fundamentalist Middle Eastern faith refuses to treat her because his religion dictates he must not touch a woman not his wife. Despite the fact that he is endangering her health, the hospital may not terminate him.
A pharmacist has recently converted to the Christian Scientist faith. She refuses to dispense any and all prescriptions, and instead advises her patients on the value of prayer. The pharmacy may not terminate her.
In any other profession, especially other professions of life-and-death, we would not stand for this. We would not allow a Jewish policeman to refuse help to a crime victim who happened to be an Arab or a Christian. We would not allow a female firefighter to refuse to put out a fire in a building that housed a men's club, or a firefighter who was a member of PETA to refuse to put out a fire in a medical research lab. Such failures to act, though based on conscience, would be investigated, and almost certainly disciplined, because they endangered lives. But this rule would expressly forbid any consequences or discipline toward anyone in the medical industry who endangered lives in a similar manner.
If a doctor doesn't agree with contraception or abortion, they should have gone into podiatry, or dermatology, or proctology, or cardiology, or neurology, or pretty much ANY specialization other than OB/GYN.
Even so, this isn't a law that would protect you from being required to take a life. This is a law that would say, you personally, as a nurse, are allowed to refuse to give a blood transfusion because you believe they are sinful, or refuse care to a Muslim because you dislike how his religion treats women, or refuse emergency care to a gunshot wound victim because he's a criminal, or refuse ANY care to pretty much anyone on the basis of your conscience, and the hospital or clinic that employs you is not allowed to fire you for that.