NY federal court ruling leaves medical professionals' core convictions in the cold
Thursday, Nov 7, 2019
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Denise Harle regarding a New York federal district court’s order Wednesday to vacate a May 2019 rule issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to protect the conscience rights of health care professionals:
“Medical professionals should never have to sacrifice the core convictions that led them to enter medicine, in order to serve in that very field. This HHS Conscience Rule clarifies and implements more than 30 laws protecting conscience rights in health care, including some protections that have been in effect for decades. The district court’s order vacating the rule strips the federal government of its ability to meaningfully interpret and apply these critical conscience protections ensuring that health care workers can live and work consistently with their consciences, without fear of discrimination. The court’s conclusion that too many health care workers’ consciences would be protected under the HHS Conscience Rule shows a misunderstanding of the fundamental rights we have historically protected—beginning with the guarantees of the First Amendment. Individual conscience rights are paramount, regardless of a person’s job title or role.”
ADF filed a friend-of-the-court brief in August on behalf of four non-profit medical organizations that support the Conscience Rights in Health Care Rule issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in May.
“Medical professionals should never have to sacrifice the core convictions that led them to enter medicine, in order to serve in that very field. This HHS Conscience Rule clarifies and implements more than 30 laws protecting conscience rights in health care, including some protections that have been in effect for decades. The district court’s order vacating the rule strips the federal government of its ability to meaningfully interpret and apply these critical conscience protections ensuring that health care workers can live and work consistently with their consciences, without fear of discrimination. The court’s conclusion that too many health care workers’ consciences would be protected under the HHS Conscience Rule shows a misunderstanding of the fundamental rights we have historically protected—beginning with the guarantees of the First Amendment. Individual conscience rights are paramount, regardless of a person’s job title or role.”ADF filed a friend-of-the-court brief in August on behalf of four non-profit medical organizations that support the Conscience Rights in Health Care Rule issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in May.
- Pronunciation guide: Harle (HAR'-lee)
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.
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