Category: Conscience Rights

By Michael Cook     The Spanish government is considering measures to restrict conscientious objection for doctors. An editorial in El Pais complains that “in recent years there have been growing signs of a counter-reformist reaction in social sectors that put their own intolerance ahead of other people’s legally protected freedoms, or even prioritize their nostalgia for …

By Wesley J. Smith Coercion is becoming ubiquitous in medicine. Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who oppose morally contentions medical procedures are increasingly being forced to choose between remaining in their professions and violating their deepest-held religious beliefs. Take the new “Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill of 2021” just passed in Queensland, Australia. The law authorizes doctors …

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), James Lankford (R-OK), and Tom Cotton (R-AR), along with U.S. Representative Andy Harris (R-MD) and a group of 80 bicameral legislators, sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra demanding answers on why the Department of Justice (DOJ) dropped a …

By Dave Andrusko Earlier today we posted a release from pro-life Senators Mario Rubio (R-Fl.) James Lankford (R-OK), and Tom Cotton (R-AR), along with U.S. Representative Andy Harris (R-MD) and a group of 80 bicameral legislators regarding a letter they had sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) …

By SPUC—the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children In a strongly-worded statement, representatives of the medical profession in Spain are accusing the government of acting unconstitutionally after a minister questioned the right to refuse to take part in the killing of unborn children. Spanish Equality Minister Irene Montero has said that “the right of physicians to conscientious …

By Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Kelly Block, the Member of Parliament from Carlton Trail/Eagle Creek in Saskatchewan has sponsored Private Members Bill C-268: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (intimidation of health care professionals) cited as the Protection of Freedom of Conscience Act. Bill C-268 protects conscience rights for medical professionals by preventing coercion and …

By Kentucky Right to Life Are you a nurse or doctor who is increasingly concerned over the aggressive push to counsel or participate in unconscionable procedures or therapies? Are you a pro-life citizen who believes healthcare practitioners should have conscience rights? Kentucky state Sen. Stephen Meredith’s SB Bill 83 that we encourage you to support (See Legislative Alert), …

By Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition An article by a group of Canadian physicians on conscience rights was published in the December 2020 issue of the World Medical Journal.  The article, titled “The Declaration of Geneva: Conscience, Dignity and Good Medical Practice,” starts on page 41 and emphasizes the importance of conscience rights …

By Laura Echevarria, Director of Communications and Press Secretary WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the state of California would lose over $200 million a quarter in Medicaid funding for violating federal right of conscience laws by requiring that all health care plans issued in California …

Editor’s note. This appeared on the blog of Alex Schadenberg and is reposted with permission. Dr. Leonie Herx is the past President of the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians and chair of the division of palliative medicine at Queen’s University. I’ve been practising palliative medicine for 12 years. Very easily, conscience is made to …

By Dave Andrusko WASHINGTON, D.C.— On June 12 , the Department of Health and Human Services finalized a rule under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that reverses an Obama Administration’s redefinition of sex discrimination to include “termination of pregnancy.” Under the final rule, HHS eliminates certain provisions of the 2016 Rule that …

By Dave Andrusko Yesterday NRL News Today wrote a lengthy analysis of the victory for religious freedom and the right of conscience the Supreme Court delivered in a 7-2 decision. The justices concluded that the Little Sisters of the Poor are not bound by a mandate, issued by HHS under a provision of ObamaCare, that …