Right of Conscience debate...

Below is a sample from a Facebook message that Melissa received yesterday...

There’s some interesting stuff going on in our federal government right now that will impact not only your access to healthcare but whether I’m allowed to practice medicine or not in this country. Currently there are 2 pieces of legislation that the President and Congress have in the works that will restrict what is called a doctor’s “right of conscience”. Healthcare right of conscience is the ability to practice medicine or dentistry guided by your religious or moral beliefs. In constitutional terms: it is “the free exercise of religion” guaranteed in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. A doctor’s right of conscience includes but is not limited to the following:
1) The right to not perform an abortion
2) The right to not perform a physician-assisted suicide
3) The right to talk to young women about the wisdom of abstinence
4) The right to not prescribe birth control to a 16-year-old girl if they feel it would be encouraging destructive habits

The boldest steps ever taken to restrict these rights are currently being taken now through a) the rescission of Department of Health and Human Services regulation 45 CFR part 88, and likely b) the Freedom of Choice Act. If these regulations are passed without compromise, thousands of doctors and healthcare workers will potentially lose their right to practice medicine in the United States if they choose to incorporate their faith into their practice. The impact of this on you guys, people in need of healthcare, cannot be overstated. If interested, here’s what you can do:
1) A 30-day comment period on the Department of HHS regulation ends April 9! You can easily send your comment to the President and his folks at this website: www.Freedom2Care.org
2) Sign the FOCA petition at this website: www.fightfoca.com

In my opinion, the government should not be forcing the hand of those in the medical field like this. Patients have a choice in who provides their medical care, and they have the choice to seek out the services of a physician who will provide them with what they desire. If you feel strongly about this, I encourage you to follow the links above and let your voice be heard.