Bill forces doctors to violate their beliefs
Lawmakers in the Illinois House are considering a deeply troubling piece of legislation that would compel medical personnel in Illinois to violate their deeply held beliefs.
This bill, SB 1564, would mandate pro-life doctors, nurses, and pharmacists to distribute information to help patients find objectionable medical services such as abortion, sterilization, and certain end-of-life care.
According to the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, 95 percent of physicians polled would quit their practice rather than violate their conscience. This fact should alarm readers. And who could blame them?
It is also important to point out that SB 1564 would negatively affect crisis pregnancy centers that provide health care services by requiring that these life centers give referrals to Planned Parenthood or other venues that promote abortion.
No American, let alone vital health care providers, should be required to violate their personal integrity in order to provide referrals to procedures or services they find morally offensive. Instead, our lawmakers should be working to uphold and reinforce First Amendment conscience protections.
David E. Smith
Executive Director
Illinois Family Institute
Carol Stream