The Trump administration has created new protections for health workers who have religious and moral objections to certain procedures, such as abortion or assisted suicide.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Thursday it will create a new division under the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) responsible for investigating complaints filed by workers claiming that their employers have violated their religious rights.
The changes represent a major shift for the OCR, which in the past has primarily focused on enforcing patient safety and privacy concerns.
"No one should be forced to choose between helping sick people and living by one’s deepest moral or religious convictions, and the new division will help guarantee that victims of unlawful discrimination find justice," OCR Director Roger Severino said at the announcement ceremony Thursday morning.
"We are saying, with the launch of this division, you do not need to shed your religious identity, you do not need to shed your moral convictions to be a part of the public square."
The new division, called the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division, will enforce "laws and regulations that protect conscience and prohibit coercion on issues such as abortion and assisted suicide" in HHS-funded or conducted programs," according to OCR's updated website.
Workers who say they experienced discrimination because they refused to participate in specific medical procedures, including abortion, or were coerced into doing so, can now file a complaint with the office.
Severino said the office has received 34 complaints since Trump took office.
Republicans and anti-abortion groups often complained that the Obama administration did not enforce federal laws that protect health workers and institutions from having to violate their religious or moral beliefs by participating in abortions or other procedures.
The change represents a major win for religious and anti-abortion groups, and comes one day before the March for Life, an annual march against abortion in D.C.
Trump is expected to tout the changes during a live satellite address to attendees Friday.
"This is a welcome change from the Obama administration’s stubborn refusal to enforce federal laws that prohibit discrimination against health care entities," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List.
Democrats and other critics worry the changes could restrict access to health care for some.
“I am deeply troubled by reports of the unconscionable approach being considered by President Trump’s Administration to use the civil rights office at the Department of Health and Human Services as a tool to restrict access to health care for people who are transgender and women," Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Health Committee, said in a statement.
"This would be yet another attempt to let ideology dictate who is able to get the care they need. Any approach that would deny or delay health care to someone and jeopardize their wellbeing for ideological reasons is unacceptable. We need to work to ensure everyone has access to quality, affordable health care, no matter who they are.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also announced it would take legal action.
“Denying patients health care is not liberty," said Louise Melling, deputy legal director at the ACLU.
"Choosing your patients based on their gender or gender expression is not freedom. Should the administration choose to move forward to implement a discriminatory policy, we will see them in court.”
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Thursday it will create a new division under the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) responsible for investigating complaints filed by workers claiming that their employers have violated their religious rights.
Hey Slow, remember when you lied that Trump isn't anti-LGBT? I'd like to see how letting health care workers refuse to treat transgender patients is somehow in the LGBT community's best interest.
Don't you know religious freedom doesn't include Moooslims!!!!!!Damn, what are Republicans going to do when Muslims begin using this to demand prayer mats, head coverings, etc... at work? Surely they must know that the sword cuts two ways.... for their religion and for religions they loathe....
Ridiculous. Absolute ridiculous and will almost certainly go to the courts."No one should be forced to choose between helping sick people and living by one’s deepest moral or religious convictions,…"
This is true. WTF is wrong with these people and their degenerate morality?
LGBT patient with emergent situation. Hard Christian right doctor. He sees patient and their partner, says no and walks away. "Saving your life is promoting your lifestyle and is a violation of my beliefs". Situation is emergent and pt dies before an ethically responsible doctor arrives. Or maybe there isn't even one as urgent cares and emergency rooms may at times have only one guy.All I see mentioned is abortion and assisted suicide. How does this harm LGBT's?
All I see mentioned is abortion and assisted suicide. How does this harm LGBT's?
All I see mentioned is abortion and assisted suicide. How does this harm LGBT's?
I think that if you're Catholic and know that abortions are part of the routine practice you either have made your peace with this issue or gotten out of the field (changed your subspecialty, patient population, practice locations ,etc etc)While I tend to progressive, I'm also pro-life. I can see where it would be soul crushing to be a catholic OB and find oneself being forced to perform an abortion where the mother's life wasn't in jeopardy. Same with assisted suicide. I see the problem where there's only one doctor qualified in the area (rural regions). It sure is a pickle, but ignoring deeply seated issues of conscience shouldn't be dismissed. I don't get the LGBT issues, the doctor isn't being asked to physically take a life (which I think is the only line that can be drawn).
While I tend to progressive, I'm also pro-life. I can see where it would be soul crushing to be a catholic OB and find oneself being forced to perform an abortion where the mother's life wasn't in jeopardy. Same with assisted suicide. I see the problem where there's only one doctor qualified in the area (rural regions). It sure is a pickle, but ignoring deeply seated issues of conscience shouldn't be dismissed. I don't get the LGBT issues, the doctor isn't being asked to physically take a life (which I think is the only line that can be drawn).
I think that if you're Catholic and know that abortions are part of the routine practice you either have made your peace with this issue or gotten out of the field (changed your subspecialty, patient population, practice locations ,etc etc)
I doubt there are people out there practicing where everyday they are basically crossing their fingers hoping this dreaded day doesn't come. Most people don't pick careers that way and put themselves in these types of situations. Whilst this move by the Trump administration pisses me off supremely, most likely it'll have extremely little impact because the situation is so uncommon and prior to it you never heard anything about people complaining about these things.
I don't see how this stands up in court. Abortion is legal.
Meanwhile people can be fired from their jobs just for being gay.
refusal to provide care is, if I am not mistaken, considered the same thing when such an incident goes to court.
But your conscience stems from your opinions.What I'm trying to say is that refusal to provide care is only reasonable, based on conscience, when it comes to taking a life. Other than that, one must own up to the responsibilities of their profession. IMHO.
Ask to see another doctor. Insulting me or my God will get you no where - hope you feel better now. Way to dumb down the debate.But your conscience stems from your opinions.
No one has any right to decide for me whether I deserve treatment or not because I don't want to linger for months in agony at the end of my life Or if I want to end a non-viable "life" in my body before it becomes a viable life.
WTF is going on??? How is there any confusion or misunderstanding here? Transgender people are HUMAN before gender! Evil fucking Dipshits! If your God requires your "conscience" to be in a place that it must reject any of its children... Your God Sucks! In fact, an particularly Evil Mother Fu*ker!
Eyes wide shut again?All I see mentioned is abortion and assisted suicide. How does this harm LGBT's?