Contact: Margie Shealy, Christian Medical Association, 423-844-1047

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 /Standard Newswire/ -- As a national debate rages over abortion mandates versus civil rights in healthcare, the results of a nationwide poll released today indicate that the vast majority of the public do not realize that federal law prohibits compelling physicians to perform abortions or refer patients for abortions.

The scientific poll was conducted by the polling company, inc. and commissioned by the Christian Medical Association (CMA) in response to a request in a regulation recently proposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS has proposed a regulation that would implement three federal civil rights laws protecting the right of healthcare professionals to follow conscientiously held ethical standards.

CMA CEO Dr. David Stevens noted, "This scientific, objective poll found that only 38 percent of Americans realize that physicians may not legally be coerced into violating standards of medical ethics and their own conscientiously held moral convictions by requiring them to perform abortions or refer patients for abortions.

"This widespread ignorance of civil rights protections helps explain why over 40 percent of our members report being pressured to violate their moral and ethical convictions in healthcare. It also underscores the urgent need for the HHS regulation and to educate the public and medical community concerning civil rights in healthcare.

"Protecting the civil rights of healthcare professionals means we will continue to be able to adhere to time-tested ethical standards that protect patients, including the Hippocratic Oath. It's ironic and alarming that many today would actually disregard civil rights and forbid physicians from following the Hippocratic Oath and other ethical standards that respect early human life.

"If physicians lose the freedom to follow conscience and ethical standards, patients lose the protections of those standards. Patients also will ultimately lose access to those physicians, who will be forced to choose other careers rather than violate ethical standards."

Kellyanne Conway, CEO and President of the polling company, inc., explained, "When read three possible descriptions regarding the legal obligations of a doctor when a patient requests an abortion, the clear majority of Americans surveyed revealed they did not have a firm grasp on the law."

Detailed poll results are available at this link. The HHS regulation is open for public comment until September 25.

Related Links:
Scientific Poll Link: http://www.cmda.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Right_of_Conscience&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=17710
Polling Company Link: http://www.pollingcompany.com
Christian Medical Association: http://www.cmawashington.org