Alabama Bill Would Allow Hospitals To Reject Miscarrying Women, Endangering Health
Alabama State Rep. Becky Nordgren is sponsoring the Health Care Rights of Conscience Act, which would allow any health care professional to turn down a patient seeking cloning, abortion or sterilization. It also permits medical professionals to refuse to do embryonic stem cell research.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), that means that hospital staff could refuse to take part in ending a woman’s pregnancy during a miscarriage even if her health was at stake.
And the legislation would also protect health care workers and hospitals from liability under Alabama law.
“This means that even if the hospitals know that the on-duty doctor won’t provide appropriate medical care, Alabama law says that in most cases they have no obligation to find someone who will,” the ACLU noted. “In effect, the Alabama legislature is saying to a pregnant woman in distress, ‘Good luck. You are on your own.’”
