Slideshow: A Timeline of Federal Health Refusal Rules

The Obama Proposal Would Restore Prior Compromise

The federal government has over the years enacted and expanded refusal rules that increase health care providers’ privileges to deny patient care. But the Bush administration’s ruling goes above and beyond even these expanded rules to unreasonably threaten access to abortion and contraception, as well as many other services. The Obama administration’s proposal to rescind the Bush rule would restore the prior compromise in the relationship between health care providers and patients, ensuring that the consciences of all are accounted for in our health care system.

For more information, see:

• Putting President Obama’s “Conscience” Proposal in Context, by Jessica Arons and Sarah Dreier
• Guidelines for Resolving Conflicts of Conscience
• The Progressive Conscience in Action, by Rev. Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
• Matters of Conscience, by Sally Steenland
• Video: The Role of Conscience in Health Decisions