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

[griffen.livejournal.com]

I would say, "Find another profession."

[miseri.livejournal.com]

After all those years of medical school, and all those student loans! Easy to say, but I'm rather surprised that you of all people should be the one to say it.

Unless you mean, "find another branch of the medical profession where this is not expected of you, assuming you are a young professional still capable of switching specialties", in which case, yeah, agreed. As long as we also agree that there *are* places within the medical profession where it is not expected.

[griffen.livejournal.com]

Either-or, as long as it removes them from a position where their personal value system dictates someone else's medical choices.