At least 18 states are considering new laws to shield healthcare workers who do not want to provide care that conflicts with their personal beliefs.
While half of the proposals would shield pharmacists who refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control and morning-after pills, other measures would shelter health workers who object to in-vitro fertilization, physician-assisted suicide, embryonic stem cell research -- and perhaps even providing treatment for gays and lesbians -- the Washington Post reported.
"This goes to the core of what it means to be an American," said David Stevens, executive director of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations. "Conscience is the most sacred of all property. Doctors, dentists, nurses and other health care workers should not be forced to violate their consciences."
Advocates for abortion rights, family planning, AIDS prevention, the right to die, gays and lesbians and others, see the push as the latest manifestation of the growing political power of social conservatives, the newspaper said.
"This is a very significant threat to patients' rights in the United States," said Lois Uttley of MergerWatch -- which monitors treatment of reproductive rights by religious hospitals.
© Copyright 2006 by United Press International
