After bold, well-aimed criticism by pro-life doctors (and others who appreciate the justice of protecting the rights of conscience), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists may consider revising the outrageous statement recently made by the ACOG ethics committee stating that even when a physician has religious or moral objections to abortion, sterilization, and the prescribing of abortifacients contraceptives, he or she is obligated to provide a referral to doctors who will do these things.But please note the operative words, "may consider."
Here's the story from amednews.com ("the newspaper for America's physicians") which relates how President Bush's Health and Human Services Secretary recently released a letter to the leaders of the ACOG expressing"strong concern" that the ethics committee opinion might endanger conscience rights and that a physician's board certification could be revoked for refusing to refer for abortions and other practices. The HHS Secretary (Michael Leavitt) then brought up important legalities suggesting that any attempt to implement the committee's opinion could violate the Weldon Amendment, a law barring recipients of federal funds from discriminating against doctors who refuse to perform or refer for abortions.
But several ACOG leaders showed they are willing to fight over the issue. And that intransigence provides a serious warning to pro-life doctors.
"The policy as it's stated leaves significant potential for decertification and discrimination," said Joe DeCook, MD, vice president of the American Assn. of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a special interest group within ACOG. "That may not be the intent, but the effect of the language is there, and we need some provision in the language that makes plain that this is not referable to our conscience convictions."
Gene Rudd, MD, vice president of the Christian Medical & Dental Assns., resigned from ACOG when he learned of the ethics opinion. While pleased that it will be re-examined, he said anything short of a retraction won't do. "There is no way they can satisfy many people, including myself, if they want to compromise conscience."
