Conscientious Objection Gone Awry — Restoring Selfless Professionalism in Medicine

A new rule from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has emerged as the latest battleground in the health care conscience wars. Promulgated during the waning months of the Bush administration, the rule became effective in January. Heralded as a “provider conscience regulation” by its supporters and derided as a “midnight regulation” by its detractors, the rule could alter the landscape of federal conscience law.The regulation, as explained in its text (see the Supplementary Appendix, available with the full text of this article at NEJM.org), aims to raise awareness of and ensure compliance with federal health care conscience . . .