Conscience Clause

What is the conscience clause and why should I care about it? What does this have to do with writing? Well, writing fiction is all about conflict and the conscience clause can help add that to a medical scene.

Generally, the conscience clause is a set of rules designed to protect a heathcare worker against performing any medical procedure they may find morally objectionable. For instance, not assisting in an abortion. My personal professional take on it is that I could withdraw myself from what I would personally consider a morally questionable medical procedure as long as there was "another qualified medical person" who could provide that care. Thus, the pateint's needs were met.

Let's take the case of Baby Joseph. Say, the hospital decides to go ahead and withdraw life support. Generally, it will be a nurse or respiratory therapist that "turns off the machines". In Joseph's case, I would not want to do that because I believe the family's wishes are reasonable... to place a trach and then take the baby home. I would request not to be assigned as his nurse or have someone else perform the duty.

Now, the Obama administration is rolling back some of these protections. They felt some healthcare professionals were over-using the conscience clause and certain populations of people were being denied care. You can read more about it here: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/18/133875483/White-House-Revises-Conscience-Clause.

What do you think? Should a healthcare worker be "forced" to perform a procedure they find morally objectionable?