The American College of Emergency Physicians pledged Monday to treat all patients regardless of personal background in response to a proposed federal rule, which aims to protect healthcare providers who object to certain medical services due to religious or moral beliefs.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced the proposed rule Jan. 18. The rule will protect healthcare providers from participating in services they may personally oppose, such as abortion, sterilization or assisted suicide.
Paul Kivela, MD, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, and Zach Jarou, MD, president of the Emergency Medicine Residents' Association, released the following joint statement in response to the proposed rule:
"Anyone. Anything. Anytime. Both by law and by oath, emergency physicians care for ALL patients seeking emergency medical treatment. Denial of emergency care or delays in providing emergency services based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic background, social status, type of illness, or ability to pay, are unethical [according to our Code of Ethics]."