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MEDIA CONTACT:
Task Force Action Fund blasts new federal health care regulationsWASHINGTON, Dec. 22 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund today denounced regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that would allow employees of health care entities receiving federal funds to refuse to assist or participate in providing "any lawful health service or research activity" on moral or religious grounds. This would allow those who work in hospitals or other health care facilities, including medial technicians and pharmacists, to deny their services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people if doing so would offend their personal beliefs. The regulations go into effect Jan. 18, 2009. Statement by Darlene Nipper, Deputy Executive Director "We are outraged by the enactment of this discriminatory policy. Like all Americans, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people deserve access to health care. No one's health care should depend on personal beliefs of an individual health care provider. It is morally unacceptable for LGBT people to rely on the roll of the dice for access to appropriate care and treatment. We urge the incoming administration to immediately address this issue. The longer it takes, the longer LGBT people will be placed in harm's way." –30– |
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