Sample Letter on a Current Issue
Support Health Care Providers' Conscience Protections
Oppose President Obama's Plan to Rescind the Health Care Providers' Conscience Rule
Support the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (ANDA) (S.96)
Oppose the Protecting Patients and Health Care Act of 2009 (H.R. 570)
Letter to the President 3
(based on a letter by Rep. John Fleming, M.D., which members of Congress are invited to sign)

Even after April 9, 2009, it's still not to late to make a difference on this issue.

Using the below letter or the other sample letters on this issue and the other resources related to it, please put a letter in your own words (or use a sample letter as is), and mail it to your federal House representative and your two federal senators as well as President Obama. It's much better to send a form letter than not to send a letter at all. And, let's flood the White House comments line on this issue.

Also, be sure to send your comments to the Department of Health and Human Services. Again, even after April 9, 2009, it's still not to late to make a difference on this issue.

Note: HHS will make available for public viewing all comments and the personal information (e.g., name and address) included in them.

Source: HTML version of downloadable .doc document from www.jillstanek.com/Fleming%20Letter.doc (The below letter has been edited, especially so that an individual can send it.)

Jane Doe
12345 Main St
Minneapolis MN 55418-3209

Date

President Barack Obama
The President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20500 

Dear Mr. President:

Subject: Please...
1) Do Not Rescind the Health Care Providers' Conscience Rule
2) Support the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, ANDA (S. 96)
3) Oppose the Protecting Patients and Health Care Act (H.R. 570)

I was deeply disappointed to hear that your administration is moving to rescind the rule implementing the series of federal laws that protect health care professionals, hospitals, and health care plans from discrimination on the basis of their refusal to participate in abortion.

These laws, first enacted in 1973, provide a broad layer of civil protections for medical professionals, allowing health care workers to practice their professions in a manner consistent with their deeply held convictions. The regulations, finalized in January 2009, ensure compliance among states, local governments, and other organizations that receive federal funds. This rule also offers much needed guidance and education for health care professionals about their rights under the law and the mechanisms in place at the Department of Health and Human Services for redress against actual cases of discrimination.

The threat of discrimination is real. In the name of increasing access to abortion, some abortion advocates have assembled state-wide campaigns to compel private hospitals, including Catholic hospitals, to provide abortion services in spite of their strong religious opposition.^1,2 Some hospitals force their employees to sign affidavits promising to participate in abortion if asked. This is a clear violation of the law, and the administration has an obligation to provide mechanisms for enforcing the law.

The perception of discrimination is also widespread. In an informal survey among its members, the Christian Medical and Dental Association found that over 40% reported feeling pressured to violate their personal ethical standards. In 2007, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology issued an ethics opinion stating that the so-called right of a woman to have unfettered access to abortion trumped the right of the doctor to refuse to participate in abortion.³ Obstetricians who object to abortion on the basis of their moral or religious convictions may feel that in such an environment their careers are in jeopardy.

I disagree that the rule "created confusion about the scope and original intent of the law."⁴ Fears of women being denied access to contraception are inconsistent with the language of the rule. Contrary to the assertions of many abortion advocates, the language of the finalized rule faithfully implemented the spirit and letter of the conscience laws that Congress has enacted over the last 30 years. Many of the opponents to the rule continue to oppose the underlying federal statutes. Yet these legislative provisions have been renewed year after year, and there is broad popular support for conscience protection for health care professionals with respect to abortion.

Physicians are trained to "first do no harm." A requirement to perform or assist in an abortion in violates the most basic tenet of the medical profession. I strongly urge you to preserve the existing conscience protection rule. In the absence of guidance and education, cases of discrimination may go unchecked and professionals may continue to leave their fields, exacerbating the health care workforce crisis that is already plaguing our country. No one should be forced to participate in abortion.

Mr. President, please also oppose the Protecting Patients and Health Care Act (H.R. 570), which would eliminate the HHS rule, and support the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, ANDA (S. 96), which would prohibit certain abortion-related discrimination in governmental activities.

Thank you for your consideration of my position on this important issue.

I would appreciate a response to my letter.

Sincerely,

[Signature]
Jane Doe

Related Pages
Ending Abortion
How You Can Help in Any of a Number of Ways
Sign the Petition to Protect Pro-life Doctors
Contact Your Elected Officials
Sample Letters on Current Issues
Support Health Care Providers' Conscience Protections