Press Conference 090609
Dr. Darilyn Falck
CONSCIENCE RULE REMOVAL COUPLED WITH BUDGET CUTS COULD TRIGGER CA HEALTHCARE CRISIS
OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: KRISTINA HERNANDEZ
June 9, 2009 703-683-5004
Medical professionals and lawmakers ask President Obama not to rescind conscience rule; want Governor Schwarzenegger to join them
SACRAMENTO, CA - California lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Dennis Hollingsworth and Senator George Runner, along with doctors in white coats, nurses and other healthcare professionals, said this morning on the North Steps of the Capitol that it is imperative the "conscience clause" rule is not rescinded, as President Barack Obama as indicated he will do in the near future.
The conscience clause protects those doctors, nurses and medical students who decline to perform procedures, like abortions, to which they are morally opposed. The issue of conscience rights for medical professionals is currently being decided by the Obama Administration.
How would a lack of conscience protection affect access to care in California? According a recent survey, 95% of faith-based doctors said they would stop practicing medicine if forced to choose between performing an abortion or losing their jobs. A total of 9,381,606 patients in California are cared for by 69 faith-based hospitals each year. Current projections also indicate a 200,000 physician shortage by 2025.
"In these times of budgetary crisis here in California, the regulation helps to ensure that our patients will have access to the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals they depend on," said Dr. Darilyn Falck, an emergency medical physician in Sacramento who represented the Christian Medical Association at the press conference.
Rescinding the conscience rule will not only have adverse effects on access to treatment and care in California but will also exacerbate the budget problems in the state.
"The loss of these faith-based physicians would have a devastating impact on health care access and would disproportionately hurt the poor and medically underserved populations, where often faith-based healthcare is their only option," said Dr. Falck.
The group of doctors, under the Freedom2Care organization, also released a letter to President Barack Obama asking him to keep in place the conscience clause. Another letter went to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, asking for his public support for the conscience clause and to join with the doctors and other healthcare professionals in asking the President to not rescind the rule.
"Many of the patients visiting faith-based hospitals, clinics and practices are uninsured or have Medicaid. Given the current crisis, in which millions of adults and children are losing coverage, California cannot afford to allow the Federal government to rescind the conscience clause. If it is rescinded, a healthcare crisis of greatest proportions would arise," reads the letter to Governor Schwarzenegger.
"If the term ‘choice' means anything at all, it must apply equally to those who support abortion and those who conscientiously object to it," said William J. Cox, president of the Alliance of Catholic Health Care, in a statement released today.
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Media coverage of press conference
Family News in Focus (Focus on the Family): Calif. asked to uphold doctors' rights of conscience
June 11, '09 - Listen to the radio broadcast
(on the page, scroll to the date and story, then click the green arrow play button on the left to listen)
Orange County Register: Sen. Sam Aanestad commentary
June 11, 2009 - California Focus: Doctors' religious rights denied: Although California struggles to find enough doctors to serve its people, observant Catholics, Orthodox Jews and religious Muslims need not apply. According to new federal regulations, health care professionals must choose between their faith and their profession. Read full commentary
California Catholic Daily: Obama proposal "would have devastating impact on health care access"
June 12, 2009 - Doctors, nurses, other health professionals and some California legislators held a press conference Tuesday, June 9, on the north steps of the state Capitol in Sacramento pleading with President Barack Obama not to rescind conscience protection regulations for healthcare providers who do not want to participate in abortions or other medical procedures they find morally objectionable. Read full story
Press conference participants and statements
Darilyn Falck, MD FACEP
090609 - statement - Falck 090609 - bio - Falck
Jacqueline Halbig, Director, Freedom2Care
Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth
090609 - bio - Hollingsworth 090609 statement - Hollingsworth
Sen. George Runner
090609 - bio - Runner Videotape of remarks
U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren (CA-3rd)
Katrina Alexis Belova - Medical student Katrina Alexis Belova explained that news of the administration's impending removal of the conscience protection regulation reminded her of her own family's experience in the former Soviet Union. Belova statement 090617
Related documents
090609 Governor letter 090609 President letter
Why Keep the Conscience Reg - Key Points handout
Real Life Stories Excerpts Handout
