Lankford Moves to Protect Medical Residents from Coercive Abortion Training Practices
WASHINGTON, DC — US Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC-03) today introduced the Conscience Protections for Medical Residents Act. The legislation ensures medical students and residents are never pressured or coerced into abortion training that violates their moral or religious beliefs, and it establishes clear federal protections, so residents are not forced to choose between their conscience and their careers.
“Medical residents should never be pressured to violate their beliefs in order to finish their training or advance in their careers,” said Lankford. “Many went into medicine to protect life, not take it. No one should have to choose between their conscience and their future in medicine. Our bill makes that clear and ensures medical students and residents can follow their convictions as they care for their patients.”
“Medical residents should not be compelled to participate in abortion training if it violates their conscience,” said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. “Opting out of such training enables potential retaliation by faculty who have enormous power over residents and their future success. Pursuing an elective abortion is not the same as receiving lifesaving care, such as for miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies, and training should reflect that. This issue is about restoring a non-ideological educational environment where individuals do not fear expressing moral or religious objections.”
Background
Under current rules from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, residents are allowed to opt out of abortion training, but the opt-out system puts pressure on trainees to participate in procedures that violate their moral or religious beliefs. Residents often fear that opting out could affect evaluations, recommendations, or future career opportunities.
The Conscience Protections for Medical Residents Act replaces the opt-out system with an opt-in system. It ensures residents can choose whether to participate in abortion training and protects them from discrimination or retaliation if they decline.
Lankford is joined by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Jim Banks (R-IN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Katie Britt (R-AL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Todd Young (R-IN).
The following organizations support the bill: AAPLOG Action, SBA, ADF, AUL, NRLC, CURE, CatholicVote, Vitae Foundation, Human Coalition, March for Life Action, Heartbeat International, SFLA Action, CWALAC, ERLC, Live Action, Heritage Action, FPA, Liberty Counsel, FRC, and Liberty Counsel Action.
You can find the full bill text HERE,and read the exclusive in the Daily Signal HERE.
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