So-Called "Conscience Clauses"

have been on the books for more than 30 years with regard to abortion, but now the Bush administration wants to expand it to include "other procedures" such as, I suppose, contraceptives.

And it could go even further than that:

Many circumstances unrelated to reproductive health could also fall under the umbrella of “other medical procedures.” Could physicians object to helping patients whose sexual orientation they find objectionable? Could a receptionist refuse to book an appointment for an H.I.V. test? What about an emergency room doctor who wishes to deny emergency contraception to a rape victim? Or a pharmacist who prefers not to refill a birth control prescription?

The Bush administration argues that the rule is designed to protect a provider’s conscience. But where are the protections for patients?

I can just see H.I.V. patients being denied care because of somebody's bigotry. I would say something like this would violate ADA, but who knows?

But I suppose contraception is the real target. There is a segment of the population which cannot accept the fact women do have lives in addition to or other than traditional family life.