Home

Subscribe

Prophetic Trends

Current Issue

Newsletter Archive

Frequent Questions

Featured Item

Make A Donation

Contact Us

The CEO of the Christian Medical Association says the Obama administration is threatening the civil rights of medical practitioners.

The Obama administration is moving to rescind a regulation that protects the civil rights and the exercise of conscience of medical practitioners. Under the regulation, medical workers were allowed to reject procedures if they violated their conscience. The Bush administration instituted the regulation in its last days, but it was challenged in court almost immediately.

Dr. David Stevens says the move by the White House "exposes the myth of moderation" in the president's abortion policy by possibly forcing practitioners to perform abortions or euthanasia. And Stevens argues it is likely the most important bio-ethical issue that Christians face in the medical field.

"Because if we lose our right of conscience -- then if we oppose embryonic stem-cell research, physician-assisted suicide, human cloning, or whatever -- it's not going to make any difference because we're not going to be at the table any longer," says the Christian physician.

"And as one Planned Parenthood lawyer said to me when I was debating her on National Public Radio...'If you're not willing to provide a legal procedure, you have no business being in healthcare."

According to Stevens, an informal survey of Christian Medical Association members indicates that more than 40 percent are being pressured to violate ethical standards -- and the fallout is significant, he adds.

"Physicians report losing positions and promotions because of their life-affirming views," he explains in a press release. "Residents report losing training privileges because they refused to do abortions. And medical students report changing career tracks away from obstetrics for fear of pressure to do abortions."

According to the release, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has even stated officially that every obstetrician is expected to participate in abortions -- either through procedure or referral.

Stevens says this issue will decide the future of healthcare in the U.S. and determine what doctors patients will have.

The proposal to change the regulation will be posted for a 30-day public comment period on the Health and Human Services website. Stevens encourages concerned citizens to make their voices heard.