What if the health worker is "offended" by working with an Aids patient or someone with STD? Or maybe they don't feel comfortable with a particular race.

Neo-cons never fail to reach new lows.

I guess this means that pharmacists can refuse to dispense prescriptions that offend them, too.
Bush loves making us even sorrier that he got elected governor or president. (Just when you thought he couldn't do any more damage......)I wonder what other insults he will hurl at the American public. Oh yeah, I forgot--he can pardon some of his cronies.

This is a dangerous precedent that will extend far beyond the issue of abortion. Not good, not good.

What really irritates me about this from my personal life is that I had to take b/c pills from the time I was 13 due to horrible female problems and those pills were the only thing that helped me up until my recent surgery. So what would I have done if my pharmacist decided they were against it? Yes, I could go elsewhere, but who the hell should have the right to deny what was medically necessary for me? It's a load of BS!!

Abortion rights??? Thats not even funny! Call it what it is! MURDER!!!

This is not a moral issue.At best abortion allows for the non existance of human life.Try as they might those in the medical red light district and political death culture cannot get the visual of silent scream out of their heads.The backdrop of human history will show pro abortion puppets for what they are.Who is more insane?The insane,or those who uphold the insane?

Wake up people. There are late term abortions being done out there. Beautiful babies being killed. No one should be forced to perticipate in such horrible acts. Hitler had doctors doing "experiments" on people. Liberals want everyone and everything to be accepted EXCEPT for what religious people think and do.

The country was founded on the freedom to express our personal beliefs. I see nothing wrong with people in the health care field following their beliefs. Some choose not to murder an unborn child while others choose to murder them. Which doctor would you prefer, one who honors life or one who does not.

There is a time and place for discussion of saving fetuses.

That time is the day when every last unwanted, starving, orphaned or mentally or physically challenged child finds a loving home, enough food, a good education and a positive support environment.

Until then it means NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

A doctor should not be forced to perform an abortion any more than a doctor should be forced to kill on of their neighbor's children.

MURDER IS MURDER......whether you believe in God or not.

Toby , I could not agree more.

see you at that one particular harbor

Bush is undermining a basic principle of being a careprovider: providing care WITHOUT JUDGMENT. Those of us trained in these arts know that a decent care provider does not choose his or her patients. We must provide compassionate compare to all!

Can a person making a religious argument against abortion do so without calling names? It does a lot to foster intelligent conversation.

I have a question that doesn't involve abortion. I'm bisexual. Does this mean my doctor can now refuse to be my doctor over it?

The world will celebrate when George W. Bush can do no more damage.

Yeah - that's a great ruling - I'm all for it.....

Why is it that abortion opponents conveniently overlook the rest of the meaning of this abominable rule? I doubt that any medical practitioner who is opposed to performing abortion has been forced into doing such a procedure. I don't think anyone is arguing that point. Should that right extend into not giving advice or a prescription for birth control? Should it extend to into giving a rape or incest victim the opportunity to take a morning-after pill? Do you who bandy about the word 'murder" so freely consider these actions to be in the same category? If so, you are not in the mainstream and you are inflicting your moral judgments on the lives of others which is unacceptable in this society. If a medical practitioner cannot see fit to provide birth control or help someone who has been violated or abused, then I say that person lacks compassion and should forfeit the right to give care.

I am so glad that this is such a pressing issue for GW. The economy is in the crapped, there are two wars waging with soldiers dying left and right. I am so glad that Bush finds this issue more important. Now I really now what his priorities are. I will be so glad when he is out of office.

People have all the "personal choice" they want. But when tax dollars enter into it, they will have to endure and accept the will of the voting public. If that offends anyone, then keep your private affairs PRIVATE !

democrat's want accessories to murder...hey quess what...some people are against abortion and don't want to participate! simple...so you just got a prez that supports abortion but that seems not enough now you want to drag everyone with.

I don't understand the outrage from the pro-choice crowd. Is it so hard to imagine that some providers who are NOT RELIGIOUS may choose not to perform abortions? The majority of abortions are elective procedures. Why does the concept of freedom of choice only apply to those who wish to obtain a particular procedure? Respect the fact that many people (including some physicians) find abortion to be morally repugnant. Morality does not require religion, and to force someone to perform an elective procedure that conflicts with his or her moral convictions is simply wrong. Some dangerous arguments are being made in these comments. Kip, the idea that people should "endure and accept" what the voting public wants is a contradiction to your position. Don't forget that the voting public once found slavery and genocide to be acceptable in this country. Texas Thinker, think a bit harder please. Do you really believe a physician would refuse to treat you because you are bisexual? Physicians swear an oath to protect life. Destroying life and protecting it are two clearly distinct acts.

Gloria, you do realize that it is the year 2008 and this law applies to the US, correct? I'm not sure where you live, but I live in a place where we have more than one doctor. I could be wrong, maybe you're living in the old west, and you only have access to one doctor. Maybe her name is Dr. Quinn, medicine woman? Perhaps you pay her in livestock, or ammunition? If Dr. Quinn decides she won't give you any birth control, maybe you should hitch a ride on the railroad to the next settlement, where you could perhaps find a more willing doctor. Unfortunately for me, I can't find a doctor who makes house calls, so the RESPONSIBILITY FALLS ON ME TO FIND ONE I LIKE.
P.S. Say hi to Sully and Horace for me if you see them at the general store.