http://www.citizenlink.org/clcommentary/A000007704.cfm
Health Care Providers Told Their Faith is Irrelevant
by Dawn Vargo, bioethics analyst
Religious freedom tossed to the wayside in favor of liberal agenda.
California's Supreme Court recently heard a case that pitted homo***ual
rights against religious freedom.
At the center of the case was a lesbian who sued two doctors who declined
to
provide in vitro fertilization (IVF). The doctors were concerned about
conducting IVF for someone who would be a single parent.
Even though they referred the lesbian to another fertility doctor and
offered to pay for any extra cost, the court is likely to rule against the
freedom of the doctors to follow their consciences.
One justice suggested, "If you can't provide this kind of service, then
don't go into this kind of practice." This doesn't bode well for health
care
providers who believe they should practice medicine within moral and
ethical
boundaries.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time health care providers have been
told to keep their religious views in the sanctuary. The Rev. Katherine
Ragsdale with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights provides an
excellent explanation of what the anti-religious folks are saying. She
told
one newspaper, "We believe in conscience, but if you can't provide the
full
range of services, choose another field."
Ragsdale is "pro-choice" for everyone except the doctor who has a moral
problem with abortion. She is not alone in her thinking. There is a steady
stream of examples of physicians, pharmacists, nurses and hospitals facing
opposition when they attempt to establish ethical and moral lines.
Morally based medicine and religious liberty are foundational concepts in
our nation. For many health care providers, these go hand in hand. If we
sacrifice either of these, it will be at our peril.
--
J Young
Jvisions@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
of 'LC'
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