So Why Exactly Did You Go Into Medicine?

In a mad dash to assure its base that the sinners aren't taking over the country, the Bush administration is cranking out a law requiring every state or local government, hospital, health plan, clinic or other entity to allow workers to withhold treatment if they conscientiously object to it.

I'm not saying that taking the Hippocratic oath means you should be bound by law to perform an abortion on demand. But at its most ridiculous this law could protect the right to refuse help to anyone who you believe doesn't deserve your help.

From the Washington Post story:

Because of such concerns, 28 senators, more than 110 House members and more than a dozen state attorneys general opposed the regulation, along with medical organizations including the American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Hospital Association.

The rule is supported by such groups as Concerned Women for America and the Catholic Health Association, which represents Catholic hospitals.

Those who don't make room for squeemish health care workers stand to lose funding, and might even have to give back funds. Bush pulled a Blagojevich!