A proposal by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to
expand federal protections for health care workers'
religious beliefs could threaten the care that
patients receive, several organizations are arguing.
LGBT people are at particular risk if the proposed "provider
conscience" regulation goes into effect, the groups assert,
because the rule would allow workers, on the basis of
their faith convictions, to refuse care to
patients.
"Existing law
already protects workers against religious
discrimination," Lambda Legal senior counsel Jennifer C.
Pizer said in a statement. "The law requires
'reasonable accommodation' of religious beliefs -- and
that's a fair approach because religious freedom
matters a lot. But the changes that HHS proposes are so
broad, vague, and confusing that they risk inviting
health workers with antigay beliefs to refuse
treatment and otherwise to discriminate against very
vulnerable patients."
Rebecca Fox,
director of the National Coalition for LGBT Health, says the
proposed regulations will affect more than just gay people.
"HHS's proposed regulations will have a negative
impact on health care for the majority of Americans,"
Fox said in a statement. "In a country where so many
people struggle to access quality health care, HHS is
creating another barrier. These regulations would be
particularly harmful for LGBT Americans, many of whom
already struggle to find and afford respectful,
good-quality medical care."
In August, HHS
secretary Mike Leavitt unveiled the proposed regulation,
saying in a statement that the new rule would allow health
care professionals to "practice according to their
conscience." He continued, "Doctors and other health
care providers should not be forced to choose between
good professional standing and violating their
conscience. Freedom of expression and action should not be
surrendered upon the issuance of a health care
degree."
Other critics of
the measure include 13 state attorney generals, who
argue it will limit access to abortion and birth control for
victims of sexual assault. (The Advocate)
