TL/DR –
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has initiated a review into a hospital’s compliance with federal law that protects conscience rights in healthcare, often referred to as the Church Amendments. The investigation was prompted by allegations that ultrasound technicians at the hospital faced possible termination for refusing to conduct ultrasounds in abortion procedures on religious grounds. This is the second time during President Trump’s second term that the OCR has initiated an investigation into an entity’s compliance with laws protecting conscience rights, and part of a broader effort to strengthen enforcement of such laws.
HHS OCR Commences Hospital Compliance Review Regarding Federal Conscience Protections
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has launched a compliance review of a hospital. The investigation focuses on the hospital’s adherence to the Church Amendments, a Federal law that upholds conscience rights in health care. The review was sparked by allegations that the hospital’s ultrasound technicians faced possible termination due to religious objections to performing ultrasounds in abortion procedures.
The OCR’s role involves enforcing Federal health care conscience protection statutes and religious nondiscrimination statutes. These laws safeguard individuals, health care establishments, and providers from discrimination based on religious beliefs or moral convictions. The ongoing review will determine if the hospital, part of a larger health care system, respects the rights of health care personnel who refuse to partake in abortion procedures due to religious or moral objections.
Anthony Archeval, Acting OCR Director, remarked that the Department is dedicated to enforcing laws that protect conscience rights and religious freedom. He added, “Health care professionals should not be coerced into, fired for, or driven out of the profession for declining to perform procedures that Federal law says they do not have to perform based on their religious beliefs or moral convictions.”
This investigation is the second by OCR into an entity’s compliance with conscience protection laws during President Trump’s second term. Today’s announcement is part of a broader strategy to amplify enforcement of laws safeguarding conscience and religious freedom.
For more information about Federal protections against discrimination based on conscience and religion, visit the HHS OCR’s official page here. If you believe your conscience, civil rights, or health information privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with OCR here. Also, follow HHS OCR on X (formerly Twitter) at @HHSOCR.
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