HHS' Office for Civil Rights issued a notice of violation against the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington for forcing a nurse to participate in an elective abortion, despite the nurse's moral objection to the procedure.
OCR says the nurse made her objection to abortion known for years and was on a list of staff who objected to performing the procedure. The nurse was allegedly not told the procedure was an abortion until they were in the room, and then the physician said, "Don't hate me," and asked her to assist despite knowing her position, according to OCR. The notice alleges that several other staff members "have been intentionally, unnecessarily and knowingly scheduled by UVMMC to assist with elective abortions against their religious or moral objections."
OCR alleges UVMMC has an illegal policy of forcing staff to participate in abortions against their moral or religious beliefs.
The Trump administration moved to implement a "conscience protection" rule that allows healthcare workers to deny medical care based on religious or moral beliefs. The rule was supposed to go into effect July 22, but was delayed until November as its constitutionality is reviewed by a federal court.
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