PRESS RELEASE - February 10, 2006

PHYSICIANS FOR COMPASSIONATE CARE EDUCATION FOUNDATION STATEMENT ON INITIATIVE PETITION #40

Physicians for Compassionate Care holds in the highest regard the ethical rights of physicians to make health care decisions in good conscience.

Access to health care is one of today's most important issues, and our profession needs to work collaboratively to ensure universal access to basic health care for everyone.

It is also essential that the rights of health care providers be preserved. Unfortunately, while Petition #40 seeks to expand access to health care, which is a public good, it ignores the rights of physicians and other health care providers to abide by the ethical dictates of conscience.

In a proposed constitutional amendment establishing access to health care as a "fundamental right," the ethical rights of conscience cannot be ignored or deferred for later statutory adoption.

Accordingly, Physicians for Compassionate Care respectfully must oppose Initiative Petition #40 because it ignores the "Fundamental Rights" of health care providers.