President Trump’s Health Department launches an unprecedented investigation into Presbyterian Hospital after ultrasound technicians were reportedly coerced into participating in abortion procedures against their religious beliefs, marking a significant shift in protecting healthcare workers’ conscience rights.
Key Takeaways
- Trump Administration’s HHS has launched a federal investigation into Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque for allegedly forcing medical staff to participate in abortion procedures
- Five ultrasound technicians were reportedly denied religious accommodations when the hospital changed its policy to require their assistance in abortions
- The American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ) intervened by citing Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Church Amendments, which protect healthcare workers’ conscience rights
- After ACLJ’s intervention, the hospital reversed its policy and granted religious accommodations to the technicians
- This enforcement action contrasts sharply with the Biden Administration’s 2022 rollback of conscience protections for healthcare workers
Federal Investigation Launched Into Hospital’s Abortion Policy
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights has initiated a compliance review into Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, following allegations that the facility forced medical staff to participate in abortion procedures against their religious beliefs. The investigation comes after the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) defended five ultrasound technicians who claimed they were coerced into assisting with abortions when the hospital revised its religious accommodation policy. This enforcement action represents a clear commitment from the Trump Administration to protect the conscience rights of healthcare professionals.
“President Trump’s U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reached out to the ACLJ after learning from our article about how a hospital was forcing medical professionals to participate in abortions, and now HHS has just launched a federal investigation of the hospital” Stated by, President Trump
The hospital allegedly changed its policy to require ultrasound technicians to assist in abortion procedures without considering exemption requests based on religious objections. When faced with this mandate, several technicians sought help from the ACLJ, which promptly sent a demand letter citing federal protections including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Church Amendments. These laws explicitly protect healthcare workers from being forced to participate in procedures that violate their religious or moral convictions.
Healthcare Workers’ Rights Defended
The ACLJ’s intervention resulted in the hospital reversing its policy and granting religious accommodations to the ultrasound technicians. Despite this positive outcome, HHS decided to proceed with a formal investigation to ensure full compliance with federal laws that safeguard conscience rights. Acting OCR director Anthony Archeval emphasized the importance of this investigation in upholding healthcare professionals’ fundamental rights and preventing discrimination against those who decline to perform certain procedures based on their deeply held beliefs.
“The Department is committed to enforcement of our nation’s laws that safeguard the fundamental rights of conscience and religious exercise,” acting OCR director Anthony Archeval said. “Health care professionals should not be coerced into, fired for, or driven out of the profession for declining to perform procedures that Federal law says they do not have to perform based on their religious beliefs or moral convictions” Stated by, Anthony Archeval
Trump Administration’s Stance on Religious Liberty
This enforcement action by the Trump Administration stands in stark contrast to the policies of the previous Biden Administration, which rolled back conscience protections in 2022. Under Biden, HHS filed a lawsuit requiring emergency room doctors to perform abortions under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), a move contested by several states including Idaho. The Supreme Court initially allowed Idaho to enforce its pro-life laws during litigation, but challenges were later dismissed, permitting abortion procedures to continue under a lower court ruling.
“This kind of enforcement action is both rare and significant. It sends a powerful message to healthcare institutions across the country: You cannot force medical professionals to choose between their careers and their faith,” ACLJ’s Jordan Sekulow responded. “We commend the Trump Administration for taking this issue seriously and moving to protect religious liberty in the healthcare context” Stated by, Jordan Sekulow
Upon taking office, President Trump’s Justice Department promptly dropped the EMTALA case, ending federal efforts to mandate health worker participation in abortions. Acting HHS Secretary Dr. Dorothy Fink has further reinforced the department’s dedication to enforcing laws that protect conscience and religious exercise rights. The administration’s actions demonstrate a clear policy shift toward strengthening protections for healthcare professionals who face potential discrimination for adhering to their moral or religious principles.
Broader Implications for Religious Liberty
The ACLJ has highlighted this case as a prime example of effective strategic legal advocacy in defending religious liberty within healthcare settings. The organization emphasizes that no American should be forced to violate their conscience to maintain employment, particularly in the medical field where ethical decisions can have profound moral implications. The federal investigation into Presbyterian Hospital serves as a warning to other healthcare institutions that similar violations of conscience rights will not be tolerated under the current administration.
“After we took action on behalf of five ultrasound technicians in New Mexico who were concerned that they would soon be compelled to participate in abortion procedures despite their deeply held religious beliefs, the federal government has now launched a formal investigation into the hospital’s conduct.”
While this specific case resulted in accommodations for the ultrasound technicians involved, the broader investigation seeks to ensure that Presbyterian Hospital’s policies fully align with federal protections for conscience rights. The case underscores the ongoing tension between providing medical services and respecting the deeply held religious beliefs of healthcare workers. President Trump’s administration has clearly signaled its commitment to prioritizing religious liberty protections in resolving such conflicts.
