News From Nevada LIFE
April 3, 2009
Ensign
Supports, Reid Helps Defeat Pro-Life Conscience
Protection Amendment
Dear Right To Life Friend,
Today the United States Senate voted 56-41 against an
amendment by Senator Tom Coburn to protect conscience
rights for pro-life medical personnel so that they are
not forced to participate in or refer for abortion and
assisted suicide.
The amendment attempted to "protect the freedom of
conscience for patients and the right of health care
providers to serve patients without violating their
moral and religious convictions." Senator Coburn's
amendment would have ensured that any funds used in the
budget's health care reserve fund will not be used to
violate the conscience of health care providers.
Nevada LIFE supports these conscience protections and
supported the Coburn Amendment. The amendment was an
effort to stop President Obama's attempt to weaken
conscience protections for health care professionals
instituted by President Bush in the final days of his
administration. President Obama may not have directly
said that he will work against conscience rights, but he
is clearly aware that conscience rights are at risk with
his support for the Freedom of Choice Act and he clearly
does not support the Bush protections. Obama will
probably at the very least move to require pro-life
physicians and other personnel to inform pregnant women
of "other options" and/or refer women for abortion.
Medical professionals should be protected from
discrimination or coercion based on their beliefs.
Forcing medical professionals to choose between their
consciences and medicine will have a devastating impact
on the American health care delivery system.
This is one of many actions that will be taken in the
days ahead to protect conscience protections for
pro-life medical personnel in the days ahead. This vote
does not mean that pro-life medical personnel do not
have conscience rights. This vote was a vote to refuse
to support conscience rights in the face of the
administration's coming attempt to weaken them. It is
possible we will in fact see legislation to undo these
protections.
The vote was 56-41. Almost all Democrats voted against
the amendment. Almost all Republicans voted for the
provision. Senator Ensign supported it. Senator Reid
voted against it.
Click here to email and thank Senator Ensign for his
vote to protect medical conscience rights.
Click here to email and ask Senator Reid to protect
conscience rights for pro-life medical personnel.
Don Nelson
Nevada LIFE
