The Trump Administration has created the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division at the Department of Health and Human Services. This new office was established to hear complaints from medical professionals who feel they have been pressured into providing medical services that conflict with their religious beliefs.
Ironically, there were fewer than 10 complaints of this nature during the entire Obama administration, so the new office seems to offer a solution in search of a problem.
It also misses a critical point. Healthcare workers are already protected under law from having to perform certain procedures or take other actions.
When healthcare workers put their personal ideology ahead of their patients needs, it can result in a loss of dignity at best, and a loss of life at worst.
According to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the new division could give a pharmacist license to refuse to fill a prescription for birth control, a transgender patient could be denied hormone therapy, or a pediatrician could refuse to treat the child of gay parents.
Take action today to protect vulnerable populations from religious discrimination masquerading as religious freedom.
- Call Mike Turner at 202-225-6465
- Call Rob Portman at 202-224-3353
- Call Sherrod Brown at 202-224-2315
Script:
Hi. I’m from [ADDRESS], calling about the US Dept. of Health and Human Services new division that condones discrimination against our own citizens. The denial of medical treatment is unconscionable and risks our neighbors’ lives. I don’t want providers who discriminate to receive governmental compensation. Can you tell me what [NAME] is doing to address this?
Thanks to Jen Hofmann and the Americans of Conscience list for today’s script.