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Abortion Conscience protection

new Kansas law protects conscience rights

Governor Brownback (Kansas) has signed a new law strengthening the protection for the right of conscience. The new law prevents “anyone from being required to prescribe or administer a drug they ‘reasonably believe’ might result in an abortion. The measure is seen as an update or upgrade to existing law, approved in 1969, allowing doctors the right to […]

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Abortion Conscience protection

“The Constitutional Right Not to Kill”

That’s the title of a new article (link to an abstract below) by Mark Rienzi (Catholic U). Rienzi argues that there is a federal due process right not to be forced to kill. The right arises in a variety of contexts–military operations, capital punishment, assisted suicide, abortion, and self-defense or defense of others. Rienzi doesn’t enter […]

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Abortion Conscience protection

Midwives lose conscience case in Scotland

Here is a link to an article on the recent decision from the Court of Session in Edinburgh rejecting the arguments of 2 midwives who claimed a right to conscientiously object to being forced to supervise the carrying out of abortions. http://www.sconews.co.uk/latest-edition/16846/forced-to-supervise-abortions/ I have not been able to find a copy of the decision but the descriptions […]

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Conscience protection Pharmacies

right to conscience victory in Plan B case

Here is a link to the federal district court opinion in the Storman case. http://www.becketfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Stormans-Opinion-from-Judge-revised.pdf This case, which has been in litigation for nearly 5 years, involves a challenge to a Washington Board of Pharmacy regulation that requires pharmacies to dispense “emergency contraceptives” despite a religious objection to dispensing these drugs. In yesterday’s ruling, the court […]

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Abortion Conscience protection Court cases

NJ nurses settle case with hospital; conscience rights protected

Here is a story from the National Right to Life News reporting on the settlement of the case brought by nurses against a New Jersey hospital that had threatened the nurses’ jobs when the nurses refused to assist in abortions. The settlement is described as a victory by Matt Bowman, who represented the nurses. Bowman […]

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Abortion Conscience protection

Michael Fragoso on conscience protection

Here is a link to Michael Fragoso’s recent essay on conscience on the Public Discourse blog. http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2011/11/4296 Fragoso discusses the efforts of ACOG and ABOG to limit the right to conscientious objection and the likely consequences of such efforts. As Fragoso states: “The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Board of Obstetricians and […]

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Abortion Conscience protection Court cases

Nurses’ jobs threatened by their refusal to assist in abortions

Here is a LifeNews report on a lawsuit that was filed by a dozen nurses whose jobs were threatened because they refused to assist in abortions. The suit, brought by lawyers from the Alliance Defense Fund, contends that the nurses’ rights under federal and state were violated by the hospital’s threats. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/11/01/hospital-told-nurses-assist-abortions-or-lose-your-job/ UPDATE: The court issued a temporary […]

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Abortion Conscience protection Constitutionality Politics Presidential Actions

Video of GOP candidates on abortion and constitutional change

If readers want to view each of the GOP presidential candidates respond to Professor Robert George’s question regarding abortion at the Palmetto Freedom Forum, you can find those exchanges on YouTube. Bachmann-George exchange at 5:27-8:18. Cain-George exchange at 6:28-8:56. Gingrich-George exchange at 7:46-9:15 very short answer then discussion of judicial role in Constitution. Paul-George exchange […]

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Abortion Conscience protection Contraception Health Care Reform

Conscience Protection and the American Experiment

Professor Helen Alvare has posted a blog entry, Uphold Conscience Protection: Religious Freedom’s Contribution to the American Experience and Threats to It, over at Public Discourse on the importance of conscience protections in a variety of settings. Many readers of this blog will recognize the professor from her former work as spokeswoman for Prolife Secretariat […]

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Abortion Conscience protection Constitutionality Death and dying

Doctor’s Conscience Rights in 14th Amendment

The Supreme Court has made it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to argue that health care workers have a Free Exercise right under the First Amendment to refuse to participate in abortions. With growing governmental powers over health care, many are concerned that legislative conscience protections for health care workers may not be sufficient to […]