The Washington State Department of Health has posted a web page that lists all of the hospitals in the state, together with their policies on admission, non-discrimination, end of life care, and reproductive health care. The page makes it possible for those seeking morally contested procedures to locate hospitals willing to provide them, while allowing hospitals that do not provide them to provide notice of that fact. This should help to minimize inconvenience and conflict.
Category: United States
HHS preventive services mandate update
The Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta, Georgia and the Catholic Diocese of Savannah have been granted a permanent injunction barring the federal government from enforcing the HHS birth control mandate against them. [Catholic Culture] In Oklahoma, 200 Catholic employers filed a suit against the federal government seeking the same kind of protection. The Catholic Benefits Association wants to offer health insurance that does not include coverage for contraceptives. [Associated Press] On 25 March, the United States Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties v. Sebelius, two cases challenging the HHS mandate. [The Foundry]
Virginia enacts protection of conscience provision for genetic counsellors
Governor’s attempt to force referral overridden by Senate
A bill concerning the regulation of genetic counselling in Virginia has been enacted with the original protection of conscience provision intact. Identical versions of the bill had been passed unanimously by the Virginia House and Senate, but Governor Terry McAuliffe, apparently in response to lobbying from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Planned Parenthood, attempted to insert a mandatory referral provision into the bill. This was rejected by the Senate. The law now requires an objecting counsellor to offer “to direct the patient to the online directory of licensed genetic counselors maintained by the Board.” [Family Foundation]
Pennsylvania legislator abandons plan to amend state constitution
State Representative Gordon Denlinger has suspended work on a bill to amend the state constitution to ensure freedom of conscience for citizens who refuse to provide services for reasons of conscience or religion. He explained that he encountered difficulty in drafting the amendment so as to avoid providing a legal pretext for unjust discrimination. [insurancenewsnet.com]
American HHS birth control mandate controversy
Little Sisters of the Poor have filed appeal in Denver, Colorado against the HHS Mandate. Catholic Notre Dame University in Indiana has been denied injunctive relief, apparently because it had already agreed to comply with the mandate. The Becket Fund reports 95 lawsuits filed against the federal government regulation, with over 300 plaintiffs: 47 by for-profit corporations, 46 by non-profit corporations, and two class action lawsuits. Of the rulings so far, 33 injunctions have been granted to for-profit corporations (six denied) and 19 have been granted to non-profit corporations (one denied).