American College of Pediatricians Denounces Proposed HHS Rule that Radicalizes Medicine
29 July 2022
Media Contact:
Quentin Van Meter, MD, FCP, President
connect@acpeds.org
(352) 376-1877
Gainesville, FL – On July 25, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a proposed rule under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act redefining discrimination on the basis of sex to include gender identity, sexual orientation, and “pregnancy-related conditions,” including termination of pregnancy. Entities that receive federal funding would be subject to this new rule, once finalized. The proposed rule leaves open the question as to whether HHS will exempt entities who object based on conscience stating, “the Department may, as appropriate, make a determination that recipients are exempt from, or entitled to a modification of the application of, a provision or provisions of this part.” In effect, this proposed rule, if finalized, would render it discriminatory for medical professionals and health care entities to decline to perform abortions, transgender interventions, and other procedures that many doctors find harmful and unethical.
Dr. Quentin Van Meter, President of the American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds), states:
“This proposed rule is a threat to conscience protections for pediatricians and other medical professionals. In the name of “health equity,” it pushes harmful ideologies that will ultimately drive good medical professionals out of the industry if they are forced to do procedures that they find unethical and harmful to their patients, such as blocking normal puberty, prescribing cross-sex hormones, or taking the life of a child before her first breath. We demand that the final rule include clear and robust conscience protections for health care professionals.”
Dr. Jill Simons, Co-Executive Director of ACPeds responded to this new rule:
“Why do regulatory agencies insist on coming between doctors and their patients? We pediatricians are tasked with practicing medicine according to what is best for children. Instead of supporting the medical profession with good programs and appropriate funding, they seem determined to suffocate physicians and promote interventions that science has found to be harmful to patients.”
Dr. Robin Pierucci, Chair of the ACPeds’ Pro-life Committee, said of the development:
Abortion is neither healthcare nor a procedure intended to treat a "pregnancy-related condition.” It is a procedure that intentionally kills a preborn child - and to varying degrees wounds the mother. No physician should be forced to participate in abortions; we have promised, “to do no harm.”
There will be a sixty-day public comment period from the time the proposed rule is published. ACPeds and its member pediatricians plan on submitting public comments opposing the components of this proposed rule that threatens conscience and promotes interventions that are harmful to patients.
If you would like to set up an interview with an expert at the American College of Pediatricians, please contact connect@acpeds.org.
About the American College of Pediatricians
The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) is a national medical association of licensed physicians and healthcare professionals who specialize in the care of infants, children, and adolescents. It was founded by a group of concerned physicians who saw the need for a pediatric organization that would not be influenced by the politically driven pronouncements of the day. The mission of the ACPeds is to enable all children to reach their optimal physical and emotional health and well-being. The ACPeds is committed to fulfilling its mission by producing sound policy, based upon the best available research, to assist parents and to influence society in the endeavor of childrearing.