Physicians, Medical Students Who Oppose Abortion Rights Face Discrimination, Washington Times Opinion Piece Says

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 22 Apr 2009 - 8:00 PDT

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The physicians, medical students, nurses and laboratory technicians who demonstrated at the National Press Club earlier this month to advocate against President Obama's proposal to rescind the HHS provider "conscience" rule put in place under former President George W. Bush are worried that the move "will drive pro-life doctors out of the profession," Washington Times columnist Julia Duin writes in an opinion piece. She reports that a poll by The Polling Company/Woman Trend "found that 82% of 2,865 Christian medical personnel said they were 'very' or 'somewhat' likely to limit the scope of their medical practice if they had to perform actions against their pro-life beliefs." Furthermore, 39% of respondents said they "already had experienced discrimination because of their beliefs," Duin writes. She notes that American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists has 2,500 members and is available to advise residents that "they have a legal right not to participate in abortions as part of their training programs."

Duin asked some medical students at the press event about their experiences. According to Duin, one physician said that during her residency she was berated by an attending physician for refusing to assist in an abortion procedure for a fetus with Down syndrome, while a medical student said she was criticized after questioning whether a procedure, which can be performed after a miscarriage, "involved killing a live child." Duin talked to one medical student who said that she was clear about her pro-life beliefs during her application process but that the student still was accepted at five schools, including Georgetown University Medical School (Duin, Washington Times, 4/19).

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