Constitutional Law

Obama To Rescind Bush Era 'Conscience Rule'

The Obama administration is planning to rescind an executive order allowing health care providers to deny services that offend their religious beliefs. The Chicago Tribune reports that the Obama administration will make the announcement today. The so-called 'conscience rule,' was ordered late in the Bush administration's term, prodded by religious lobbying groups. That rule, according to the Bush administration Health and Human Services Secretary, is needed to protect scores of health care providers from dispensing services, such as counseling on abortion, which might offend their religious proclivities. The rule greatly expanded federal law that allows health-care workers to refuse, citing religious reasons, to provide abortions.

Earlier this year, seven states, including Connecticut, California and Illinois, sued the Bush administration arguing that the rule elevates religious beliefs of health care professionals over the health of patients. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said the Bush rule is 'ideologically driven, contemptuous of women's rights and the rights of all citizens and completely unconstitutional and unconscionable.' Lawmakers in Congress, such as Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and medical association groups, such as the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology have also voiced opposition to the rule.

Reproductive rights groups hailed the administration's reported move. Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said the president 'has signaled his intent to honor the public's call for a focus on commonsense, common-ground solutions that make a difference in the lives of women and their families.'

The Tribune says the Obama administration's change will not take place immediately, allowing for a 30-day comment period.

Full post as published by ACS Blog on February 27, 2009 (boomark / email).