House votes to protect conscience rights in health care
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Health care providers and insurers couldn't be fired or sued for refusing to perform a procedure, fill a prescription or cover treatment for something they object to for moral, ethical or religious reasons under bills approved Wednesday by the state House.

The main bill in the package would create the Conscientious Objector Policy Act. It would allow health care providers to assert an objection within 24 hours of when they receive notice of a procedure with which they don't agree. However, it would prohibit emergency treatment to be refused.

The Republican-controlled House overwhelmingly approved the four-bill package as dozens of Catholics looked on from the balcony. The Michigan Catholic Conference, which pushed for the bills, hosted a legislative day for Catholics on Wednesday at the state Capitol.

The other three bills, which were approved by similar margins, would exempt a health insurer or health facility from providing or covering a health care procedure that violated ethical, moral or religious principles reflected in their bylaws or mission statement.

The bill doesn't allow pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control.

More attempts from the Radical Right to legalize discrimination. While I believe that this bill was shooting at abortion rights, it could also be used to deny service if you are gay. Or "living in sin". Or any host of reasons that they could wave their Bible at.

I would love to see someone denied service because they are Christian.

I'm sure that Granholm will veto this. But if this was Engler? *shudder*