[Pflienews] PharmFacts E-News Update: Write your congressman today to support new HHS rules on abortifacient Plan B

[PFLI PharmAid Center]

*PharmFacts E-News Update -- 17 Jul 2008 AD #2

*
http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2008/07/new_dhhs_consci.html#more

July 16, 2008
*New DHHS conscience protection rule: [The time is now!]*

The /*New York Times*/ published an article 
<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/washington/15rule.html?_r=2&ref=us&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin> 
yesterday, "Abortion proposal sets condition on aid," which I thought 
sounded promising. *Loved the definition of abortion!*


<http://www.jillstanek.com/snakes.jpg>

    The *Bush* administration wants to require all recipients of aid
    under federal health programs to certify that they will not refuse
    to hire nurses and other providers who object to abortion and even
    certain types of birth control....

    Such certification would also be required of state and local
    governments, forbidden to discriminate, in areas like grant-making,
    against hospitals and other institutions that have policies against
    providing abortion....

    _The proposal defines abortion as follows: "any of the various
    procedures - including the prescription, dispensing and
    administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or
    any other action - that results in the termination of the life of a
    human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether
    before or after implantation."_...

    Indeed, among other things the proposal expresses concern about
    state laws that require hospitals to provide emergency contraception
    to rape victims who request it.

I called a source at the *Department of Health & Human Services*, which 
wrote this rule (currently in the preliminary stages), to fill in details.

As the article stated, this was only distributed throughout DHHS Monday 
for comment and leaked to become the topic of a /*NYT*/ story by Tuesday 
by someone(s) clearly "doing everything they can to kill it," said my 
source.

This rule would provide sweeping conscience protection to medical 
workers, hospitals, and even pharmacies that do not want to participate 
in abortion or distribute the morning after pill. Indeed, some state 
governments have been enacting laws or executive orders mandating that 
hospitals and pharmacies prescribe the MAP.

Furthermore, it appears family planning clinics and even abortion mills 
receiving federal funds would not be able to discriminate against hiring 
pro-lifers, which could become verrry interesting.

*And, of course, health care professionals could not be forced to 
participate in abortion or contraception distribution against their 
conscience. [PFLI emphasis]*

------------------------------------------------------------------------

*PFLI SUGGESTION FOR WRITING HHS, YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND YOUR 2 US SENATORS:
*

Subject:
I support the new HHS regulations on abortifacients like Plan B.

Dear /[Decision maker],/

I'm writing to express my support to a proposed new Health and Human 
Services regulation that could discourage doctors and health-care 
clinics from providing abortifacients posing as 'contraception' to 
healthy young women who need it.

*Please personalize your message*
Federal law already allows doctors and even health-care corporations 
(hospitals, HMOs, and health plans) to refuse to provide services or 
make referrals for abortion. All health professionals, including 
pharmacists, should enjoy rights of conscience for their sincerely held 
religious, moral or ethical beliefs.

The new rule, which finally adds and expands the definitions of 
so-called 'contraception' and abortion, would cause justice in law, 
regulations, and policy, and make the health workplace reflective of 
American values which cherish and protect religious beliefs.

I know it's an uphill battle, but I encourage you to do everything you 
can to try and convince the Bush administration to STAY the course on 
the proposed regulation.

Sincerely,

/[Your Name]/
/[Your Address]/
/[City, State ZIP]/

Click to find your US senators and representative 
<http://capwiz.com/cl/home/>

------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFLI PharmAid Center

pfli at pfli.org <mailto:pfli at pfli.org>
PO Box 1281
Powell, OH 43065-1281 USA
800-227-8359
www.pfli.org


PFLI supports pharmacist rights of conscience NOT to be forced to 
dispense or counsel for chemicals which violate their sincerely held 
religious, moral or ethical beliefs.  For more info see:
http://www.pfli.org/main.php?pfli=conscienceclausefaq

*** PFLI is the only pharmacy association which is exclusively pro-life.
It represents thousands of pharmacists and many lay supporters
in the USA, Canada and all around the globe. For membership info, key
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