"As a physician anesthesiologist at a large medical center in the mid-Atlantic region, I received a directive from our chairman that members in our department who would not assist in abortions were obligated to refer the care of women who had chosen to have such a procedure to another anesthesiologist who would. Since I am a Catholic Christian, this disturbed my conscience. But just as troubling was the implication that I had a medical-ethical obligation to these patients and that distancing myself from their might subject me to accusations of medical abandonment.
"The American Medical Association's code of ethics supports physicians' right not to provide care to a patient except in cases of emergency. Since the vast majority of abortions in the United States are elective, no physician should ever be required to assist in them. Therefore, a law requiring any physician to be involved with abortions flies in the face of both moral and professional ethical standards." --Roger G. Fennell, M.D.
Our Goal: To educate and persuade the public, policy makers and the medical community regarding conscience rights in healthcare.
Freedom2Care is a coalition organized by the Christian Medical Association in 2009 to bring together organizations and individuals who recognize the value of preserving historic American civil rights and freedoms in healthcare.
The Freedom2Care coalition seeks to educate:
* the public, so that patients recognize and advocate for their freedom to choose and retain access to healthcare professionals who follow life-affirming standards;
* policy makers, so that our leaders recognize the historic American ideals of tolerance and fairness that prompted and should secure the civil rights legislation regarding conscience rights in healthcare; and
* the medical community, to protect the freedom to adhere to time-tested, life-affirming standards of medical ethics and to preserve professional judgment and integrity, free from undue political influence.
Thank you for your interest in these values and in this movement. Please join the coalition, learn more and make your voice heard.
