The Obama administration has published proposed regulations that would require almost all hospitals to establish and enforce policies regarding sexual orientation and gender identity that may violate their religious beliefs and be contrary to their independent medical judgment.

The Thomas More Society joined with the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and other national groups to file a formal objection with the Federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Together we pointed out the lawlessness of the proposal and the serious threats it brings to the privacy and safety of patients, and to the independent medical judgment and religious liberty of religious health care providers. We urged HHS to delete the offensive language altogether or at least add language we provided to protect religious liberty.

According to Tom Brejcha, President and Chief Counsel, “Doctors should decide which treatments are medically necessary, not government bureaucrats. Our government should not coerce religiously affiliated hospitals to violate their religious beliefs – the very beliefs that motivate them to serve the sick, the injured, and the dying. The Thomas More Society stands with medical professionals whose faith inspires them to serve others with the highest quality healthcare.”

A patient’s sexual orientation or gender identity should have no effect whatsoever on most medical care. However, these proposed regulations could interfere with a hospital’s professional judgment about which procedures or services are ethical, medically necessary, or in the best interest of the patient. Doctors should decide which treatments are medically necessary, not government bureaucrats. And the government should not be coercing religiously affiliated hospitals to violate their religious beliefs – the very beliefs that motivate them to serve the sick, the injured, and the dying in the first place.

Read our Public Comment here.