Patient rights top priority

In his recent column about the Department of Health and Human Services announcement to rescind an HHS refusal rule (March 3), Cal Thomas shows just how out of step he is with the majority of Americans.

The reality is this midnight refusal regulation imposed by the Bush administration jeopardizes women’s health.

The current rule undermines health care access by allowing insurance companies, hospitals, doctors, physicians and health care workers of all kinds to deny patients health care information and services, without patients even knowing.

In an already stressed health care system, the rule creates chaos, particularly for low-income women and families. These are people whose options are already limited. When a patient walks into a hospital, pharmacy or any health care center she should be confident she will receive complete and accurate health care information and services.

Washingtonians happen to agree. In a 2008 poll, across all demographics including age, political party, geographic region and gender, 74 percent of people surveyed in our state said that a patient’s rights to health care should have greater priority than the health care provider’s personal, moral or religious beliefs. Anything less erodes the basic standard of care that we all deserve and rely on.

Jet Tilley

Spokane