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A collection of legal groups sued Trump administration on Tuesday for its new rules protecting health care workers with religious objections against the obligation to provide or refer to an abortion, sterilization or to medically assisted suicide.
The Center for Reproductive Rights, Lambda Legal, the United States United States for the separation of church and state and Santa Clara County are asking the US District Court of California Northern District to cancel the rule, which they call "the denial of care rule." The groups represent medical centers, community centers and civil rights organizations in the United States.
"Religious freedom is the right to believe or not, whether to worship or not, as you see fit," said Richard Katskee, America United's legal director for the separation of church and church. the state, during a phone interview with reporters. "When it is transformed into a weapon, a means of discriminating and harming others, of having to bear the costs and the burden of your religious exercise, this far exceeds what is constitutionally permitted. exactly what the government has done here. "
The lawsuit accuses the Trump administration of violating patients' right to freedom of expression under the First Amendment as well as their rights under the Fifth Amendment. He accuses the Trump administration of violating the law on the administrative procedure which dictates the procedure to be followed in regulation, alleging that officials have not taken into account the impact of the rules on patients.
In the complaint, the groups wrote that the rule "endangers the health of patients in the name of promoting the religious beliefs of those entrusted with caring for them".
The groups warned that the rule, issued May 2 by the Department of Health and Social Services, would let health care workers deny medical care to patients because of personal religious or moral beliefs. They said that health facilities could stop practicing abortion, sterilization or sex reassignment surgery for fear of losing public funds.
"The rule is extremely broad and in no way limits the risk of being denied treatment, even for people in need of urgent care," said Genevieve Scott, senior counsel for the Center for Reproductive Rights, at Telephone interview with reporters. .
James Williams, Santa Clara County Attorney, says that the rule is written in general terms and that it is therefore possible for a receptionist to refuse to tell patients if a hospital provides an abortion or birth control. Groups expressed concern that transgender patients are hiding their identity for fear of discrimination, which could lead to inappropriate care.
The Trump administration rules do not make any changes to the existing laws on religious freedom, but rather create an enforcement mechanism allowing health care providers to file with the local government. Civil Rights Office of the agency when they find themselves in situations in which they are obliged to provide, discuss or dismiss for services. The Trump administration last year added the division of conscience and religious freedom to investigate such violations.
Proponents of Trump's administrative rules stated that they were necessary so that health care providers would not lose their jobs if they refused to participate in abortions or refused to see a doctor who would prescribe medications. putting life in danger.
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