There are some very scary things going on right now in the Bush administration. Excerpt from New York Times article above:
WASHINGTON — A last-minute Bush administration plan to grant sweeping new protections to health care providers who oppose abortion and other procedures on religious or moral grounds has provoked a torrent of objections, including a strenuous protest from the government agency that enforces job discrimination laws.
As an example of the policies to which they object, Bush administration officials cited a Connecticut law that generally requires hospitals to provide rape victims with timely access to and information about emergency contraception.
From Planned Parenthood: This new rule could allow almost 600,000 health care entities that receive federal funding to redefine abortion to include the most common forms of birth control — and then refuse to provide these basic services. For any health provider to intentionally withhold information about widely embraced treatment options from a patient — for any health condition — is absolutely unconscionable under any circumstances. The federal government has no business funding providers who do not abide by this most fundamental standard of care.
Email Bush opposing this madness here
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
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A 16 year-old girl walks into a hospital emergency room alone. Sexually assaulted the night before, the girl approaches a charge nurse and says “I think I need emergency contraceptives.” The charge nurse briskly answers, “I’m sorry, I cannot help you with that.” Still alone, the girl leaves.
ReplyDeleteUnder these proposed guidelines, this scenario is not only legal but likely. If the girl had said “I need medical attention” or “I’ve been raped” or even “may I ask someone else to help me” then, then perhaps the charge nurse would have been obligated to assist her.
But even one exception proves the rule’s despicable consequences. Conscience dictates that no victim should have the added burden of defending their own need. Granting impunity to the anti-social whims of fanatics is precisely the type of behavior which government should disavow.
On a personal note, I worked briefly in the Human Resources department of a hospital. Even in suburban Northern California, I estimate that a quarter of personal files contained a signed statement excusing themselves of any duties concerning abortion. Little do I want to imagine my life today had such medical attention been hindered when I was young.