The state of Michigan recently passed a law called The Conscientious Objector Policy Act, which protects healthcare workers from reprisal if they refuse to take part in a procedure they have moral or ethical issues with. This act, in part, is said to be an effort to protect the freedom of these individuals to not compromise their beliefs.
Wow. Well, isn’t this just a stinking pile of crap? On the one hand, I can understand the argument – after all, just because you work in a particular industry doesn’t mean that you should have to act in a way that violates your morals, right? On the other hand, my contention would be "shut the fuck up". Where do we draw the line with these ethical objections, anyway? What if I have an ethical objection to someone because, hell, they’re left-handed? Does that mean that as a doctor I could decide not to treat someone? Can’t I just decide that I don’t like the look of you, and make up a moral objection for it later?
This law also covers pharmacists, to give them an out if they decide that a particular prescription violates their moral standards. Apparently birth control pills can’t be objected to in this way (according to the law) but the so-called ‘morning after pill’ could be.
Actually, the legislation in question covers several new statues. A better description of each can be found here and here One particularly worrisome development is that one of the new laws covers insurance companies. Here’s a quote:
- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, [an entity] may refuse to offer or provide a health care benefit that violates an ethical, moral, or religious principle reflected in its articles of incorporation, bylaws, or an adopted mission statement.
WTF?! Yeah, that’s just fantastic. Imagine trying to contact your insurance company to find out if a particular procedure is covered (something which is fraught with confusion in the best of circumstances). After your requisite 90 minutes listening to the hold music, you’re told that the procedure isn’t covered because the INSURANCE COMPANY has a goddamn moral objection to it? Sure, because insurance companies are known the world over for their strong moral values. Yeah.
*beating head against wall* I’m going to try and weigh in on this more intelligently later, but right now I can’t even begin to describe how stupid I think this is. Argh.
