WASHINGTON, July 12, 2002 (LSN.ca) – Joe Pitts, Pennsylvania Republican Congressman, said yesterday that hospitals and healthcare workers should not be forced to perform or participate in abortions. He and a co-sponsor, Health Subcommittee Chairman Mike Bilirakis (R-Fla.), have put forward the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act. “No hospital should be forced to take the life of an unborn child against its will,” Pitts said. “Religiously affiliated hospitals and hospitals that simply don’t want to offer the elective procedure shouldn’t have to. Forcing hospitals to perform abortions is wrong.” Pitts, speaking at a meeting of the House Health Subcommittee, said Congress needs to pass the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, which would guarantee that no hospital would be forced to perform abortions against its stated will. At the present time, federal law provides conscience protection for individuals and healthcare providers who choose not to perform abortions. But Karen Vosburgh of Palmer, Alaska, testified that her local hospital was ordered by a judge to perform abortions. “We, too should have a right to choose—a right to choose not to be involved in destroying life,” she said.
To read Reuters coverage see: https://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020711/hl_nm/congress_abortion_dc_1