Iowa Defense Alliance

This morning in the Des Moines Register there is a very misleading guest opinion piece that falls squarely into the realm of immoral propaganda. The column in question was written by the President of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, Jill June. As I read the article I couldn’t help but laugh at the mischaracterization of a new rule enacted by the Bush administration designed to protect healthcare workers from persecution and other forms of denigration.

The rule in question is the Provider Conscience Regulation. The first bit of misinformation being doled out by Ms. June and her colleagues at Planned Parenthood is that this is a new regulation that skirts the role of Congress. That is just not the case. This new rule, simply stated, is designed to increase awareness to several statutes that had already been passed by Congress over the years, as well as increase compliance with these statutes. You can check out some information on the Health and Human Services website here. The representation provided by Ms. June and her organization is factually wrong and extremely misleading.

We all know that Ms. June and her organization is primarily concerned with increasing the availability of abortions across our fair state. Her essay however, attempts to tie her opposition to this rule to other medical practices are laughable. She claims that medical procedures would be compromised by allowing certain healthcare providers to decline to take part in a procedure that is contrary to deeply held personal and religious convictions. This rule in no way limits providers from performing procedures that are currently legal and available. Instead it protects individuals from being forced to take part in or discriminated against because of their beliefs.

Let me share with you a quote from the Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary of Health, Admiral Joxel Garcia, M.D..

“Many healthcare providers routinely face pressure to change their medical practice – often in direct opposition to their personal convictions. During my practice as an OB-GYN, I witnessed this first hand. But healthcare providers shouldn’t have to check their conscience at the hospital door. This rule will help ensure that doesn’t happen.”

Please take the time to read the information provided about this new rule. As has already been stated, it doesn’t not actually create a new regulation to follow, but rather reinforces and increases the awareness of those rules. Once you understand what is actually going on you will understand that Jill June and Planned Parenthood of Iowa are engaging in a campaign of deception and untruths with the goal of undermining the beliefs and convictions of a variety of healthcare providers across the country. Don’t let this happen, let your elected representatives know that you support this rule and that it is vital that it is maintained.