I knew Bush would try to slip one under the wire...

[mousme]

To be honest, I expected another war. What he's slipping under the wire, however is legislation that would allow any medical professional to refuse their services to a woman needing an abortion, on religious or ethical grounds. No matter who: the doctor, the nurse, the anaesthesiologist, anyone could walk away from a woman in need, even if they're the only one for two hundred miles who can perform the job.

Clinics that receive government funds would have to abide by this rule, and could not fire someone for not doing their job, even if they are the only person in a hundred miles who could do it. Even if it is the only abortion-providing facility in the state.

It's sneaky, in a brilliantly twisted way. No need to make abortion illegal, which would be a messy legal tangle. No, instead, you can just make it impossible to obtain the service.

Props to the_xtina for pointing me to this entry, which explains it better than I can, and also gives many handy links to follow if you want to take action. Please, if you're an American citizen in particular, take a few moments to write an email, at the very least.

Comments

[talyesin.livejournal.com]

I'm forced to wonder how much actual effect it could have. I mean, if you object that strongly to abortion, why would you work at a clinic were abortions were provided?

[griffen.livejournal.com]

Americans increasingly think that freedom of religion means they should get all the benefits of a job without any of the consequences of the job. Pharmacists who insist that if their religion prohibits birth control, then they don't have to fill prescriptions for birth control pills, are a good example.

It's such bullshit.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

There appears to be a growing medical and legal movement of "conscience" in which the practitioners are deliberately choosing this field of medical practice in order to promote their religious views and impose them on their patients. They appear to feel that it's part of their religious calling.

Now I'm officially scared.