News >> Browse Articles >> General Health
Proposed Rule Affects Contraceptive Information
The Salt Lake Tribune
August 27, 2008
Mike Leavitt, secretary of federal Health and Human Services, says doctors, nurses and other health care workers should not “be forced to provide services that violate their own conscience.” Instead, a new rule Leavitt is proposing would, in essence, force poor women to limit their health care choices to just those that are morally acceptable to taxpayer-funded providers.
Now that is morally suspect.
The rule would allow anyone who works at a clinic or hospital that receives federal Title X funds to refuse to do their job if it means that, as a result, a woman could get access to a contraceptive or surgical procedure that the worker believes is morally wrong.
In Utah, Planned Parenthood is the only recipient of Title X funds.
No one is arguing that a doctor or nurse should be forced to perform an abortion if he or she condemns the procedure. That exercise of conscience is already protected under federal law. But this proposed rule goes far beyond the abortion issue. It could mean a woman who visits a federally funded clinic might not receive information about contraceptive options, including emergency contraceptives that could prevent a rape victim from becoming pregnant. That is medically indefensible.
Some people’s religions or personal principles dictate that abortion and surgical sterilization are always wrong, and some belief systems extend that abhorrence to contraceptives. But the reality is that contraception, for most people, is a health issue, not a moral issue. ]
If an emergency room doctor does not explain all options available to a woman after she has been raped, that doctor is derelict in his or her duty to the patient. The same goes for doctors who won’t help a woman who simply wants to prevent a pregnancy for any reason.
The doctor should not be forced to hand out a contraceptive and certainly should not be forced to recommend an emergency contraceptive or abortion. But a patient has a right to information she needs to make the decision herself and should not be deprived of it because of someone else’s beliefs.
Leavitt, Utah’s former governor, says doctors who oppose contraceptives and abortion are victims of discrimination if they are required to simply explain all available options. But it’s a worse form of discrimination to keep vital medical information from women simply because they can’t afford a private clinic or hospital.
(c) YellowBrix 2008
kstiltner1
3 days ago
1326 comments
Interesting.
RN2B
2 months ago
284 comments
Well, I headed to www.Regulations.gov. Ugh, am I ever thankful for articles like this. After reading the full proposal, I don't know that I would have been able to summarize it. All the legal mumbo-jumbo is so thick. I'm not bragging here, but I'm a pretty good student, and I felt totally inept reading this. **melpn, Thanks for providing the information regarding planned parenthood. It was very simple to send off a quick note using their canned letter with my comments attached. I, personally, feel that it is very important that we fight to keep Planned Parenthood alive. I believe many people do not totally comprehend all the services they provide for women.
melpn
2 months ago
4 comments
OK, who is angry about this? You may also go to PlannedParenthood.org and send a quickie form letter to HHS (you may add a comment to it if you like). We can balance our right to not participate in acts we find morally objectional IF we are required to immediately direct the pt to another nurse who is willing to do so. In practice it would be impossible (each shift would have to have a pro-ilfer and a pro-choice on each shift...) but it is still indefensible. This is not about us, it is another attempt by the right to chip away at abortion rights. RN2B, thanks for seeing this and asking "what can I do to change this?". The world could use more of this thinking.
RN2B
2 months ago
284 comments
katefear, I'm heading there. You are a superstar. Thanks!
katefear
2 months ago
4 comments
HHS is accepting public comment on this proposed rule change thru september 25, 2008. Comments can be submitted electronically at http://www.Regulations.gov or email to consciencecomment@hhs.gov.
You can also access the full text of the proposed rule at http://www.Regulations.gov -- keywords provider conscience.
KristinVCU
2 months ago
4 comments
Refusing information is wrong. This sounds like the governement to trying to gain more control into womens lives. If a doctor does not wish to get contraceptives or preform an abortion, the doctor should point his patient in the direction of a doctor who will. Why does it have to be women that are raped in the cases? All women should have access to this information, medicine, and procedure.
egerfers
2 months ago
2 comments
As a medical provider the first thing that we are taught is to give care while not casting judgement. I agree with everyone who has stated if you can't do your job then find a new one.
cdnurse
2 months ago
3240 comments
Ray, you are so right. How can any one refuse to give any information to any patient? That is the point. Not if abortion is "right" or wrong" Once again, we are not to judge our patients. I am always amazed when I hear judgmental remarks coming from nurses that I work with. Ray and others that have posted on here are right. If you can not do this job without judging others, get the Hell out. You are entitled to your beliefs. However, your beliefs should never ever be forced on any one. Not your patient, your friends, your neighbors, and yes, not on your child. It is not our job as caregivers to put our beliefs on our patients. We are to be there to support them spiritually if needed and religiously (theirs, not ours) if needed.
raymoss1
2 months ago
50 comments
My question is why are the low income always affected? And why can a nurse or a doctor refuse to give birthcontrol info to a patient. I thought that becoming a nurse/doctor one puts thier judgement aside and helps the patient. Where is this country heading? Why are women the ones that are the targets. If one has such strong moral beleifs about birthcontrol, abortion etc then don't work for the clinic or go into the health feild at all. Every women has a right to good quailty care. Every women has the right to do with their body as they see fit, that means birth control. Sad situation.
iluvnrsing
2 months ago
328 comments
I think you are missing the whole point of the article here.
basiajune
2 months ago
72 comments
RN2B and Shan: I agree with! But like here in Chicago we have clinics that have a program that you can sign up for if you do not qualify for Medicaid, and every visit you pay $15 and results are free. And the clinic gives out bags of free condoms to the patients. At the hospital I work at they have condoms in little boxes by the receptionist. But I know some people might be embarressed to take a few. And at one time they had a stand with nurses talking about HIV/AIDS and STD's and how it is important to wear a condom and they asked some boys walking by if they wanted some condoms (they were probably like 13-16 years old) and they were walking away laughing histerically. And I thought to myself: your not going to laughing when you are taking care of a baby in 9 months or end up getting HIV or any STD's. Alot of kids are having sex really young, and should be able to get contraceptives even though they can not afford it. Which will prevent the need of an abortion or unwanted child in the future. But also a victom being raped is fighting for her life you think she is going to be able to say "Hey stranger put this condom on first please." There are twists and turns to every discussion!
RN2B
2 months ago
284 comments
I wonder if there is a place that the average person/professional can go to voice their opposition of this ridiculouslly unprofessional proposed rule? If anyone comes into anything please post it here. Thanks.
cdnurse
2 months ago
3240 comments
A cat in heat? So, now, we are judge? If some one does act like a cat in heat we punish them and make them have a baby they do not want?
dmazment
2 months ago
896 comments
As nurses, we are all about patient education and this proposal negates all of our efforts to do so. A pharmacist does not prescribe the morning after pill or contraceptives, they dispense them. If an OB/GYN does not believe in either or in abortion, then they should only practice in hospitals with the same philosophies. I'm going to say it again. If you can not freely do what is best for the patients or can not do what the patient wants because of your beliefs than get out of healthcare.
cdnurse
2 months ago
3240 comments
Shan: agreed