HHS Decision to Overturn Protections for Pro-Life Docs Could Hurt Pregnancy Centers, Care Net Says
LANSDOWNE, Va., Feb. 22, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Care Net President Melinda Delahoyde responded to news that the Obama Administration has overturned regulations that were designed to undergird the long-standing conscience protection laws for healthcare professionals. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services both rescinded and amended sections of the regulations previously approved by the Bush Administration. "The net result is that much of the original purpose and intent behind the regulations has been gutted, leaving a document that does not clearly ensure the protection of conscience rights for all healthcare workers in every instance," said Delahoyde.
"Our nation's physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers have the right to practice medicine without violating their conscience. Removing these protections may ultimately have the impact of removing these individuals of integrity from the field of medicine entirely," Delahoyde said. "That's not an action that we as Americans are willing to accept." Delahoyde said that her network of 1,130 pregnancy center affiliates could feel the damaging blow of this action. "Pregnancy centers empower women facing unplanned pregnancy to choose abortion alternatives," Delahoyde said. "To accomplish this, we offer critical, free medical services, such as limited obstetrical ultrasounds and STD testing. Because of our commitment to providing alternatives to abortion, we rely on the availability of pro-life medical professionals -- nurses, physicians, sonographers and others. If the rights of these individuals are violated, then they will simply leave the field of practice or not enter it altogether. With more than 580 pregnancy centers in the Care Net network that offer medical services, we're simply not willing to take that risk." Care Net's National Medical Consultant Sandy Christiansen, MD was interviewed by CNN to share her story of discrimination during her residency. Dr. Christiansen now serves as the medical director of Care Net Pregnancy Center of Frederick, MD. Read Dr. Christiansen's comments before the President's Council on Bioethics regarding the need for conscience protections. For interviews with Melinda Delahoyde or Dr. Sandy Christiansen, contact the Care Net press office at (703) 554-8742.
