WI Bill Would Expand Procedures That Health Care Workers Can Refuse

The movement toward permitting conscientious objection by health care professionals is expanding. Currently Wisconsin law permits health care professionals to refuse on moral or religious grounds to participate in abortions and sterilizations. The Associated Press reported yesterday that Assembly, the lower house of the Wisconsin legislature, has passed Assembly Bill 207 that would expand the list of procedures that health care workers could refuse to perform. Newly added are procedures such as removal of feeding tubes, stem-cell research and transplants using fetal tissue. The bill would also protect health care workers who refuse to refer patients elsewhere for these procedures. Previously the governor has said that he will not sign a bill that would prevent patients from obtaining health care.