[20060227]RS21428_堕胎良知条款法的历史与影响.pdf

1 Katherine A. White, Crisis of Conscience: Reconciling Religious Health Care ProvidersBeliefs and Patients Rights, 51 Stan. L. Rev. 1703, 1703 (1999).Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21428Updated February 27, 2006The History and Effect of AbortionConscience Clause LawsJody FederLegislative AttorneyAmerican Law DivisionSummaryConscience clause laws allow medical providers to refuse to provide services towhich they have religious or moral objections. In some cases, these laws are designedto excuse such providers from performing abortions. Only one abortion conscienceclause bill, S. 1983, has been introduced since the inception of the 109th Congress.Although there has been no major legislative activity with regard to this bill, Congresshas, in recent years, passed appropriations legislation that contains conscience clauseprovisions. This report describes the history of the conscience clause as it relates toabortion law and provides a legal analysis of the effects of such laws, including theprovision that was enacted under H.R. 3010, the FY2006 appropriations bill for theDepartments of Labor, Health a