All my life, one page at a time

Now, over the years the Bush Administration has done some pretty appalling shit.

But this? This is one of their worst.

They're proposing an official "conscience rule" which would allow doctors to opt out of performing a procedure or service if they have a moral or religious objection to it.

This proposal is a blatant violation of basic human rights - for everyone.

The health of the patient is the most important thing, and only they have to the right to decide what to do to their own bodies - no one else. By allowing doctors to opt out of medical procedures because of so called "attacks of conscience", you are depriving the patient their right to health care. And in many cases, the patient doesn't have the option to simply find another doctor to treat them, therefore the doctor should do their job. If they had a moral objection to performing a procedure, then they either should not have entered that field, or face the rightful consequences for not doing their job - getting fired. If doctors must face the consequences for their mistakes, then surely they must face the consequences of their deliberate actions?

Actions that could lead to deaths, if the doctor decides they will not perform an abortion on a woman who will otherwise die if the pregnancy is carried to term. If a pregnant woman cannot get an abortion, and so resorts to extremely more risky ways to do it herself. If an AIDS patient is denied care because he or she is homosexual. Of course, these are but a few possible but very probable examples of what could happen.

This is not about protecting religious freedom at all. This is about completely taking control away from the people who have the least amount of it - patients. It applies especially to women and minorities but would affect the liberties of everyone.

So please, I beg you, take a moment and stand against it. Make a donation through Planned Parenthood.

Write to your legislator, telling them you oppose the rule, and asking them to fight it.

Let your voice be heard, and send a comment to consciencecomment@hhs.gov under the title of “provider conscience regulation".

Spread the word to everyone you know. Because if we're going to fight this, we'll need everyone we can get.

parts of this post swiped from naamah_darling's great post about this issue. check that one out too!

I'm in such a weird mood right now. A whole bunch of emotions have hit me all at once, and they're getting all tangled up in each other. But the pervasive feeling is sadness. Not depression, but sadness. There's a difference somewhere between those words, there is. Because everything comes to an end, even the things that you never want to end. And now it's just figuring out whether it's worth the fight to keep things afloat.

That was kept purposefully vague because I don't even know half of what I'm talking about myself. Like I said, it's a weird mood.

So instead, have a meme:

Leave an anonymous comment with the following:

1. One secret.
2. One compliment.
3. One non-compliment.
4. One love note, but it does not have to be for me.
5. Lyrics to a song.
6. How old you are.
7. How long we've been friends.
8. And a hint to who you are.
9. After you do it for me, put it in your LJ and see who does it for you.

I'd be ever so happy if you would do this for me. :)