Rule shields health workers who withhold care based on beliefs

The Bush administration has granted sweeping new protections to health workers who refuse to provide care that violates their personal beliefs, setting off a battle over opponents' plans to try to repeal the measure. The regulation cuts off federal funding for any state or local government, hospital, health plan, clinic, or other entity that does not accommodate doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other employees who refuse to participate in care they find ethically, morally or religiously objectionable.