Religious Belief Getting in the Way of Patient Care?

On its way out, the Bush administration has decided to make news in the medical world. They have passed a new ruling–effective in 30 days–which says more hospitals, healthcare providers and insurers can deny medical treatment based on religious or moral beliefs.

Previously, there were rules which allowed health care providers to deny abortions and sterilization treatments to patients if they thought it morally repugnant. This new ruling widens this scope and allows even more denials based on moral beliefs.

This decision has been met with widespread controversy. The American Medical Association does not support the new ruling, as they feel the providers are currently protected from performing procedures they feel are wrong. This new ruling–some believe–is a move toward the denial of care for woman based on religious beliefs. A way to make abortions illegal without making them illegal?

Some more reading: WebMD