This archive report was first published on 30 June 2019.
On June 28, 2019, a federal court in California agreed to delay the implementation of a healthcare rule that would allow medical workers to decline performing abortions or other treatments on moral or religious grounds.
The rule, known as the 'Protecting Statutory Conscience Rights in Health Care; Delegations of Authority,' was due to take effect on July 22, 2019, but will now be delayed for final consideration until November 22, 2019.
The move comes after President Donald Trump's administration announced the rule earlier in May, as part of its efforts to restrict abortion both in the United States and abroad.
Planned Parenthood and other nonprofits offering family-planning services argue that the rule, if implemented, would impose heavy costs on healthcare providers dependent on federal funding, which they could lose by refusing to comply.
Opponents of the rule, including Planned Parenthood, have argued that it would impose heavy costs on healthcare providers dependent on federal funding, which they could lose by refusing to comply.
