Protects right to decline participation in services that violate conscience

 Harrisburg, PA – Monday, January 28, 2008, Senator John H. Eichelberger, Jr., introduced the ‘Conscientious Objection Act’ to protect the fundamental right of conscience for individuals and institutions that provide health care products, services, and procedures such as those related to abortion and contraception.

“Health care providers and institutions should not be required to participate in any service that violates their conscience. This bill will protect those professionals throughout the Commonwealth, from being forced to go against their religious, moral or ethical principles,” John says.

Any phase of medical care, treatment or procedure relating to abortion, artificial birth control, emergency contraception, artificial insemination, assisted reproduction, human cloning, human embryonic  stem-cell research, fetal experimentation and sterilization is included in the bill.

The bill has nine co-sponsors in the Senate.

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