Governor Brownback (Kansas) has signed a new law strengthening the protection for the right of conscience. The new law prevents ”anyone from being required to prescribe or administer a drug they ‘reasonably believe’ might result in an abortion. The measure is seen as an update or upgrade to existing law, approved in 1969, allowing doctors the right to [...]
That’s the title of a new article (link to an abstract below) by Mark Rienzi (Catholic U). Rienzi argues that there is a federal due process right not to be forced to kill. The right arises in a variety of contexts–military operations, capital punishment, assisted suicide, abortion, and self-defense or defense of others. Rienzi doesn’t enter [...]
Here is a link to an article on the recent decision from the Court of Session in Edinburgh rejecting the arguments of 2 midwives who claimed a right to conscientiously object to being forced to supervise the carrying out of abortions. http://www.sconews.co.uk/latest-edition/16846/forced-to-supervise-abortions/ I have not been able to find a copy of the decision but the descriptions [...]
Here is a link to the federal district court opinion in the Storman case. http://www.becketfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Stormans-Opinion-from-Judge-revised.pdf This case, which has been in litigation for nearly 5 years, involves a challenge to a Washington Board of Pharmacy regulation that requires pharmacies to dispense “emergency contraceptives” despite a religious objection to dispensing these drugs. In yesterday’s ruling, the court [...]
Here is a story from the National Right to Life News reporting on the settlement of the case brought by nurses against a New Jersey hospital that had threatened the nurses’ jobs when the nurses refused to assist in abortions. The settlement is described as a victory by Matt Bowman, who represented the nurses. Bowman [...]
Here is a link to Michael Fragoso’s recent essay on conscience on the Public Discourse blog. http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2011/11/4296 Fragoso discusses the efforts of ACOG and ABOG to limit the right to conscientious objection and the likely consequences of such efforts. As Fragoso states: “The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Board of Obstetricians and [...]
