What the fuck is wrong with these people
The last gasp legislation of the Bush administration is proving to be seriously fucking toxic. Their most recent trick; writing disgustingly broad legislation to allow US Doctors, Pharmacists and similar to refuse to provide any healthcare that 'violates their personal beliefs'.
The Bush administration are pushing this as if it was required legislation to protect those who refuse to peform abortions and sterilisations or to refer people for those procedures but this is disgustingly disingenious; multiple laws already exist protecting pro life doctors and pharmacists from having to refer for these procedures, peform these procedures or in the case of Pharmacists, even dispense contraceptives or emergency contraception. They have this shit covered, people. What this legislation does is open an enormous fucking hole into which anyone can fall.
Being treated for AIDS or Hepatitis? Taking contraceptives for any purpose (incl for endometriosis, heavy periods, migraines)? Looking for a post-miscarriage D&C? Looking for any treatment at all if you happen to be Queer or Trans? Looking for any control of your treatment as a Mental Heath services user? Looking for any treatment at all that someone might have a 'moral, religious or ethical' objection to, or even if their objection is to treating you fullstop for any treatment at all? Then you're shit out of luck in the land of the free because the questionable ethics of the people you depend on for lifesaving services now trump your right to life.
Given that we've already seen EMTs leave people to die because of who and what they are, and that there are many cities and counties where obtaining any contraception at all, let alone emergency contraception is becoming increasingly difficult due to the 'moral right' of ill informed pharmacists not to do their damn jobs I am finding it very difficult to reassure myself about this rubbish.
If the new adminsitration can't turn this shit around It may be time for me to start thinking about staying out of the states permanently.
Links
Washington Post
Jill@Feministe
QueenEmily@QuestioningTransphobia
We'll meet my family in Canada instead!
Amys last blog post..Even if you want
There's similar stuff creeping in over here. I recall several articles on doctors refusing to refer patients for treatment or whatever because they objected based on their own personal faith. I'll have to search for the articles as I could only find this one after a brief look:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7018025.stm
Personally the whole thing pisses me off. Their personal faith in whatever religion they follow should never be a factor in any decisions they make, neither should their opinion on whatever lifestyle someone chooses to follow. If they have a problem with that then they shouldn't be doctors/insert other profession as appropriate.