管家婆心水论坛

New HHS Conscience and Religious Freedom Division Must Not Undermine Physician鈥檚 Obligations to Treat All Types of Patients

Statement attributable to:
Jack Ende, MD, MACP
President, 管家婆心水论坛

Washington, DC (January 18, 2018) 鈥 The American College of Physicians (ACP) cautions that the creation of a new Health and Human Services (HHS) division鈥攖he conscience and religious freedom division鈥 tasked with enforcing conscience laws must not lead to discrimination against any category or class of patients, as guided by the medical profession鈥檚 ethical obligations and consistent with ACP policies.  ACP would be particularly concerned if the new HHS division takes any actions that would result in denial of access to appropriate health care based on gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or other personal characteristics.

ACP will evaluate the newly formed division as it begins operating, informed by our ethics and public policy positions.  Those state that physicians have a professional obligation to not discriminate against any class of patients, but also that a physician may have a conscience objection to providing a specific medical service to a patient. 

ACP鈥檚 Ethics Manual states 鈥淎lthough the physician must address the patient's concerns, he or she is not required to violate fundamental personal values, standards of medical care or ethical practice, or the law. . . If the physician cannot carry out the patient's wishes after seriously attempting to resolve differences, the physician should discuss with the patient his or her option to seek care from another physician.鈥

The manual goes on to detail the physician鈥檚 the professional obligation to provide care, 鈥淏y history, tradition, and professional oath, physicians have a moral obligation to provide care for ill persons.  Although this obligation is collective, each individual physician is obliged to do his or her fair share to ensure that all ill persons receive appropriate treatment. A physician may not discriminate against a class or category of patients.鈥 [Emphasis added in bold]

In ACP鈥檚 paper, , evidence showed that 鈥渋ndividuals with gender identity variants face increased discrimination, threats of violence, and stigma.鈥  ACP recommends that, 鈥淭o reduce the potential for discrimination, harassment, and physical and emotional harm toward persons who are not covered by current protections, the medical community should include both sexual orientation and gender identity as part of any comprehensive nondiscrimination or anti-harassment policy.鈥

ACP strongly opposes any policies that increase discrimination and have the potential to harm patients especially the most vulnerable populations based on their personal characteristics.  Instead, we urge our government to establish policies that are based on inclusion and support.

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About the 管家婆心水论坛
The 管家婆心水论坛 is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 145 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 152,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on and .

Contact: Jackie Blaser, (202) 261-4572, jblaser@acponline.org