Trump administration officials have launched a federal investigation into Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque after the medical facility allegedly tried forcing pro-life staff to participate in abortion procedures against their religious beliefs.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is investigating Presbyterian Hospital for allegedly forcing medical professionals to participate in abortions against their religious convictions
- Five ultrasound technicians requested religious exemptions after the hospital changed its policy to require their assistance in abortion procedures
- The American Center for Law & Justice intervened by sending a demand letter citing federal protections under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Church Amendments
- The hospital ultimately reversed its policy and granted religious accommodations after legal pressure
- This enforcement action stands in stark contrast to the previous Biden administration’s rollback of conscience protections for healthcare workers in 2022
Hospital Faces Federal Investigation After Policy Change
The Trump administration has initiated a compliance review into Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque following allegations that the facility attempted to force medical staff to participate in abortion procedures. The investigation centers on the hospital’s policy change that would have required ultrasound technicians to assist in abortion procedures regardless of their religious or moral objections. Several technicians immediately requested religious exemptions but reportedly received no response from hospital administration, leading them to seek legal assistance.
“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 President Trump
The investigation is being conducted by the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to determine whether the hospital violated federal laws that protect healthcare workers’ conscience rights. These protections include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on religion, and the Church Amendments, which specifically prevent healthcare facilities receiving federal funds from discriminating against employees who object to performing abortion procedures.
Legal Intervention Prompts Policy Reversal
When the ultrasound technicians didn’t receive responses to their exemption requests, they contacted the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ), which promptly sent a demand letter to Presbyterian Hospital. The letter outlined the federal laws prohibiting coercion of medical professionals into performing procedures that violate their religious convictions. This legal pressure ultimately resulted in the hospital reversing its policy and granting religious accommodations to the affected employees.
“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 Anthony Archeval
Despite the hospital’s policy reversal, HHS officials determined that a formal investigation was still warranted to ensure complete compliance with federal laws and to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future. The compliance review will examine whether the hospital has proper policies in place to accommodate staff who refuse to assist in abortions due to religious or moral beliefs.
Trump Administration’s Protection of Conscience Rights
Legal experts note that this enforcement action represents a significant shift in federal policy under the Trump administration. The Biden administration had previously rolled back conscience protections for healthcare workers in 2022, making this investigation particularly notable. Acting HHS Secretary Dr. Dorothy Fink has emphasized that the department is committed to enforcing laws that protect conscience and religious exercise rights.
“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 Jordan Sekulow
The Trump administration has taken several other actions to protect life and religious liberty in healthcare. Earlier this year, the Justice Department dropped a case initiated under the Biden administration that had attempted to use the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) to require emergency room doctors to perform abortions regardless of state laws or personal beliefs. The Supreme Court had previously allowed Idaho to enforce its pro-life laws while that case was being resolved.
Implications for Religious Liberty in Healthcare
Advocates for religious freedom in healthcare emphasize that this case underscores a fundamental principle: no American should be forced to violate their conscience to maintain employment. The ACLJ has highlighted the importance of strategic legal advocacy in defending religious liberty in healthcare settings, particularly as hospitals across the country face pressure to expand abortion services following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
“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.”
The investigation into Presbyterian Hospital serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing tensions between expanding abortion access and protecting the conscience rights of healthcare workers. As the HHS compliance review proceeds, it will likely establish important precedents for how similar cases are handled nationwide, reinforcing the message that medical professionals cannot be compelled to participate in procedures that violate their deeply held religious or moral convictions.
