The Trump administration issued a new rule Thursday that gives health care workers leeway to refuse to provide services like abortion, sterilization or assisted suicide, if they cite a religious or conscientious objection.
The rule, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, is designed to protect the religious rights of health care providers and religious institutions.
According to a statement issued by HHS's Office for Civil Rights, the new rule affirms existing conscience protections established by Congress.
"This rule ensures that healthcare entities and professionals won't be bullied out of the health care field because they decline to participate in actions that violate their conscience, including the taking of human life," OCR Director Roger Severino said in a written statement. "Protecting conscience and religious freedom not only fosters greater diversity in healthcare, it's the law."
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