Delaware Businesses and The Right To Fire Employees
In an article entitled "At-Will Employment In Delaware," I wrote about the right of an employer to fire an employee, and the exceptions to this rule. Recently, thanks to President Bush, another exception has been created for health-care workers whose personal beliefs are in conflict with the care sought by a patient. Under this regulation, employers must accommodate health care workers such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, receptionists, and others who are against certain care based on moral, ethical or religious beliefs. It's commonly referred to as the right of conscience rule.
Here are some comments about the rule:
"Officials at hospitals and clinics predicted the regulation will cause widespread disruptions, forcing family planning centers and fertility clinics, for example, to hire employees even if they oppose abortions or in vitro fertilization procedures that can destroy embryos." from the Washingtonpost.com
"This gives an open invitation to any doctor, nurse, receptionist, insurance plan or even hospital to refuse to provide information about birth control on the grounds that they believe contraception amounts to abortion." from the Los Angeles Times
"A receptionist could refuse to schedule appointments, health insurance agents could refuse to process payments, and operating room staff could refuse to clean equipment based on their conscientious objection to certain medical procedures or services," said Dr. Davis, medical director of Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health." from MedPage Today
