Right of Conscience Rule Jeopardizes Doctor-Patient Relationships
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on December 22nd, 2008 in General.
Do you trust your doctor to tell you the truth? Do you feel confident that you will be informed about your health status, and all available options? If your answer is yes, you might want to reconsider.
The outgoing Bush administration has granted new protections for health care workers, allowing them the right to refuse to provide patient care… or even referrals… based solely on moral or ethical objections. These sweeping protections are extended to doctors’ offices, pharmacies, hospitals, insurers, medical and nursing schools, diagnostic labs, nursing homes, and state governments. Workers involved in the preparation and cleanup of medical procedures and doctors’ front office staff are also covered under the new rule.
Called the “right of conscience” rule, it promises to increase already high tensions between patients and health care workers.
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