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Press Release from ALFI on the Approval of HB 5028 at the Meeting of the Committee on Health
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ALFI Commends Committee on Health on Swift Passage of Rights of Conscience Act May 23, 2006
The Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines (ALFI) commended legislators of the Committee on Health for its swift passage of House Bill 5028, the “Rights of Conscience Act of 2006” during the Committee Meeting today.
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The Committee approved unanimously the initiative of author Rep. Hermilando Mandanas (2nd district, Batangas) in seeking to protect from harassment and discrimination all health professionals and workers who decline to perform or assist in health care services to which they conscientiously object because of ethical, moral or religious principles.
“The right of conscience of doctors, nurses and other health workers and employees and even students must be recognized and protected. They do not lose their right to exercise their religion and conscience once they enter the health care profession,” Mandanas said when he filed the Bill last February 2006. Cong. Mandanas emphasized to the Committee today that the medical procedures in HB 5028 such as artificial birth control, ligation, sterilization, artificial insemination and fetal experimentation do not treat illness or life-threatening situations.
ALFI and other institutions present at the Meeting supported the Bill for its recognition of a basic principle: that no one, least of all a medical or health worker committed to heal and preserve life, should be forced to violate his conscience by participating in procedures that he deems harmful, morally wrong or life-threatening.
One of the guests, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Phils. Legal Counsel Atty. Jo Imbong, lauded the measure and said that the Bill will bring great relief and consolation to health workers who do not wish to follow local governments’ directives on reproductive health programs and are subjected to threats and harassment. She also cited the problems of medical residents who are forced to do ligations and other procedures.
Since HB 5028 has been favorably acted upon by the Committee, the Bill and its Committee Report will be transmitted by the Committee on Health to the Committee on Rules, so that plenary discussions can be scheduled.
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