Health care workers who want to refuse to treat patients because of religious or moral beliefs will have a new defender in the current administration.
The top civil rights official at the Department of Health and Human Services is creating the Division of Conscience and Religious Freedom to protect health care workers who refuse to take part in procedures like abortion or treat certain people because of moral or religious objections.
This is another reversal from Obama era regulations, and another expansion of what conservatives call “Religious Freedom.”
As people of conscience, we can not simply accept these pronouncements. As a result, Americans will be denied equal access to medical care, and lives will be endangered.
Today, we call our 3 members of Congress to voice our opposition to this horrifying interpretation of “freedom.” If possible, please also write to leaders in the Department of Health and Human Services with comments.
- Call Mike Turner at 202-225-6465
- Call Rob Portman at 202-224-3353
- Call Sherrod Brown at 202-224-2315
- Write Acting Secretary, Eric Hargan, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201
Script: “Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m calling from [ADDRESS]. My message today is in response to the new Division of Conscience and Religious Freedom in the Office of Civil Rights at HHS. “Religious freedom” should not be used as a shield for those who would deprive Americans of medical care based on personal beliefs. A healthcare worker’s job is to save LIVES, not use a personal moral code to decide who lives and who dies. Protecting providers who refuse care will result in American lives put as risk. Everyone deserves equal access to medical care. Please use your position to further equality, a uniquely American value, instead of permitting discrimination under the guise of religion.