Today, the Biden Administration released a final rule partially rescinding the Trump Administration’s harmful refusal rule, which would have allowed nearly anyone involved in patient care to refuse care to patients because of their religious or moral beliefs.
President & CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health, Dr. Jamila Perritt, responds:
“As a community of physicians across the country, we have seen first-hand the damage that’s done when the bias and ideology of health care providers or institutions takes precedence over the needs of patients, resulting in the denial of lifesaving, compassionate care. Rules like the ones the Trump Administration issued and that the Biden Administration rescinded today are used to stigmatize, shame, and endanger people who are seeking care for a number of timely needs, including miscarriage care, ectopic pregnancy treatment, contraceptive care, gender affirming care, and abortion care.
The rule that was rescinded today would have blatantly put patients’ health and lives at risk.
“So-called ‘moral objections’ or ‘religious refusals’ force patients to have their timely care delayed, or pushed out of reach all together, particularly if a religiously affiliated institution is the only option they have. This is misaligned with medical standards and ethics and deliberately undermines patients’ bodily autonomy and self-determination. The rule that was rescinded today would have blatantly put patients’ health and lives at risk.
“While we applaud the rescission, we remain concerned about parts of the rule that remain in place. Although we have clear signs that this Administration is dedicated to expanding access to care, we can’t be certain that future administrations would do the same. Decisions about health care belong between the trusted relationship of patients and providers, it should not be at the whim of politicians or subject to political theater and ideology.”
