RCRC Releases Guidelines for Ethical Health Care

Disciples For Choice has endorsed In Good Conscience: Guidelines for the Ethical Provision of Health Care in a Pluralistic Society, a document produced by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (see below). These guidelines are the basis of a resolution that will be presented to the upcoming General Assembly as a proposed study document.

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) released new ethical guidelines on providing healthcare in America. The guidelines, entitled In Good Conscience: Guidelines for the Ethical Provision of Health Care in a Pluralistic Society, seek to strike a balance between the beliefs and rights of providers and the beliefs and rights of patients. Alarmed by the increasing imposition of sectarian religious beliefs on health care access-especially access to reproductive health and humane end-of-life care-for millions of Americans, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, representing mainstream denominations and faith traditions, is calling for all health care providers to implement the new guidelines. . . .

The new guidelines provide an alternative to sectarian restrictions imposed on health care, such as the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, among others. As an increasing number of health care institutions fall under the control of religious organizations that restrict services based on their own religious beliefs, guidance is needed for providers and patients. For example, all Catholic hospitals, where 1 in 5 Americans receive their care, refuse to provide a range of reproductive and end-of-life service. The implications for patients are enormous: they are denied treatment or medication even when it is legal and they can pay for it. There are also implications for the doctors and nurses at such hospitals.

Individual doctors, pharmacists, and nurses are also exercising a "religious or moral objection," refusing to provide essential services and often leaving patients without other options. . . .

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For more information about the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice,
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For more information about Disciples For Choice,
PLEASE CLICK HERE and HERE.

To read a resolution by the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) affirming the decision-making capacity and rights of women in matters of reproductive health care, PLEASE CLICK HERE.