WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- A White House plan to afford protections to healthcare providers who oppose abortion on religious or moral grounds has drawn criticism.
The Bush administration-proposed rule would prohibit recipients of federal money from discriminating against doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who refuse to perform or to assist in the performance of abortions or sterilization procedures because of their religious or moral beliefs, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
The newspaper said the rule would prevent hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices and drugstores from requiring employees with religious or moral objections to "assist in the performance of any part of a health service program or research activity" financed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Opposed to the plan are officials from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, including its legal counsel, whom President George W. Bush appointed. Counsel Reed Russell said the proposal would overturn 40 years of civil rights law prohibiting job discrimination based on religion.
Officials at the Health and Human Services Department said they plan to issue a final version of the rule within days. Aides to President-elect Barack Obama said he would try to rescind the rule.
