WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 /Christian Newswire/ -- As coordinator of the Freedom2Care ( www.Freedom2Care.org) coalition of over 50 organizations, today the Christian Medical Association (CMA, www.cmda.org) sent a letter to President Obama indicating that over 10,000 individuals have signed a Freedom2Care petition urging the President and Congress to protect conscience rights and stop abortion mandates.
The letter to the President noted that "the problem of discrimination in health care and protecting conscience rights through both law and regulation are key to protecting patients' access to health care now and in the future."
CMA CEO Dr. David Stevens said, "Our polling demonstrates that the American people by two-to-one margins support conscience-protecting laws and the conscience-protecting regulation that President Obama plans to get rid of. Our national survey of nearly 3,000 faith-based healthcare professionals reveals that conscience protections are vital to continuing the faith-based medical care that millions of patients depend upon.
"Protecting conscience rights and stopping abortion mandates are crucial for passing healthcare reform legislation. The Capps amendment in the House bill, which would publicly fund abortions, and the Kennedy amendment in the Senate bill, which would require physicians to perform or refer for abortions, are like lethal injections to healthcare reform."
CMA Senior Vice President Gene Rudd, MD, an Obstetrician-Gynecologist, emphasized the data communicated in the letter to the President:
"Our tri-partisan polling shows that 88% of American patients said it is either 'very' or 'somewhat' important to them that they share a similar set of morals as their doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers. And 87% believed it is important to 'make sure that healthcare professionals in America are not forced to participate in procedures and practices to which they have moral objections.'"
Dr. Rudd added, "It's time that the President and Congress get in step with the American people, stop trying to mandate and publicly fund abortions, and start protecting the conscience rights that are key to protecting access to healthcare for millions of poor patients."
To schedule an interview, please contact Margie Shealy at (423) 844-1047 or by e-mail: margie.shealy@cmda.org. The Christian Medical Association is equipped with Ku Band Digital Uplink satellite and ISDN lines.
