Trump creates new office to protect conscience rights for medical professionals

President Donald Trump marked the anniversary of Roe v. Wade by creating a new office in the federal health department that would protect the religious freedom and conscience rights for doctors and nurses who do not want to participate in abortions or assisted suicide. 

The new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be an advocate for conscience protections and will evaluate complaints from those who feel they are denied opportunities in health care because of their religious beliefs. 

Addressing the 45th annual March for Life rally in Washington by video, Trump said it was “so important” to “protect the conscience rights and religious freedoms of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals.” 

The U.S. bishops praised the new division while calling for additional HHS action to prevent states such as California, New York and Oregon from demanding that religious organizations cover abortions in their health plans.