By Margaret McCarthy -
MUNDELEIN - Illinois could endanger federal health care funding if a pending "right of conscience" bill a state law, a prolife attorney told the Republican Assembly of Lake County last week at their monthly meeting.
Dan McConchie of Americans United for Life spoke Thursday, June 18 meeting of the Republican Assembly of Lake County regarding Illinois SB 1564. As amended by Senate Amendment 3 the law would would weaken the conscience protections afforded to healthcare providers. The bill passed in the Senate with two Republican votes. It has not passed in the House yet.
"At present, Illinois has the strongest legal protections for the right of conscience of any state in the Union," McConchie told the group. It is because of this that the ACLU and the abortion industry are intent on weakening these protections via the proposed amendment.
The proposal would obligate a healthcare facility, physician, or healthcare provider to participate in potentially conscience-violating services by requiring the provider to refer or transfer a patient or provide information the patient regarding other healthcare providers who the provider reasonably believes offer the objected-to healthcare service. Thus a provider would be obliged to discuss the so-called benefits of abortion, for example.
McConchie said that a little known objection to this amendment is that it appears to violate federal conscience law, endangering the state’s federal funding. Several members of the Illinois congressional delegation signed a letter stating their concerns earlier this year.
Another concern is that medical providers and counselors say they will cease practicing, or practicing in the state, rather than violate their consciences. We already have a shortage of medical providers in many areas of the state. This would exacerbate the situation.
The attack on the freedom of conscience advances a radical ideology and fails to meet any demonstrated need. The refusal of service stories are manufactured by Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers to advance their agenda.
Republican Assembly of Lake County meetings are held every third Thursday at the Baymont Inn and Suites (formerly Comfort Inn), Mundelein at 7 pm.
The RALC annual picnic will be held in the afternoon on August 29 at the Lakewood Forest Preserve (Wauconda), Shelter E.
Author Margaret McCarthy is a citizen journalist. Send your submissions to info@illinoisreview.com
