Article snippet: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) said the new rule protects healthcare providers from discrimination when they exercise their conscience rights in programs that are funded by HHS. “Finally, laws prohibiting government funded discrimination against conscience and religious freedom will be enforced like every other civil rights law,” said OCR Director Roger Severino. “This rule ensures that healthcare entities and professionals won’t be bullied out of the health care field because they decline to participate in actions that violate their conscience, including the taking of human life,” he added. “Protecting conscience and religious freedom not only fosters greater diversity in healthcare, it’s the law.” The rule will enforce about 25 provisions already passed by Congress that protect the conscience rights of healthcare providers. It also replaces a 2011 Obama-era rule the Trump administration views as “inadequate.” “President Trump’s efforts reflect a long history in American constitutional law about the morality of conscience rights,” said Family Research Council president Tony Perkins. “Unfortunately, the previous administration had little concern for protecting the conscience rights of doctors, nurses, and residents.” He explained: Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), chairman of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, said he is “grateful” for the new rule. “Health care should be about saving life, not taking life,” he s... Link to the full article to read more