Health Highlights: Dec. 18, 2008
Dec. 19 -- Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:
New Federal Rule Poses Threat to Women's Health:Critics
A new regulation the Bush administration says is designed to protectfederally funded health care providers who refuse to perform procedures,such as abortion, that conflict with their religious and moral beliefs willseriously hinder millions of women's ability to get reproductive health services, critics charge.
The new rule gives federal health officials the power to halt federalfunding for any state or local government, hospital, clinic, health plan,doctors' office or other body that fails to accommodate staff who exercisetheir "right of conscience." The regulation would apply to more than 584,000health care facilities, the Washington Post reported.
The regulation, which was sought by conservative groups and abortionopponents, goes into effect in 30 days. Not only does it protect healthcareprofessionals, it also covers a range of workers, including support staff,trainees and even volunteers.
A wide range of groups are outraged by the new rule.
There are more than 17 million women across the country who will bearthe burden of this harsh regulation, a disproportionate number of them low-income and women of color. Both groups rely heavily on public healthprograms as their only access to reproductive health services. But the newregulation allows almost any worker in a health care facility -- even areceptionist -- to turn them away, withhold information, and refuse to referthem elsewhere," Center for Reproductive Rights President Nancy Northup saidin a statement released Thursday.
"As it is, low-income women and women of color already face tremendousbarriers getting health care, including racial discrimination, inadequatefunding of medical assistance programs, logistical obstacles such asinflexible work schedules and inadequate child care," said Northup, whocalled on President-elect Obama to immediately rescind the regulation whenhe takes office in January.
Related Stories
ABC News Live