Washington is suing the federal government over a new rule that allows health-care workers to deny medical care and information solely on the basis of their religious or moral beliefs.
The rule published by the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration May 21 gives workers the categorical right to refuse to “assist” in any health-care service program or research to which they object on religious grounds. It applies to any health-care worker, including receptionists and lab technicians, as well as to insurers.
Washington’s laws, including the Death With Dignity Act, were crafted to respect many different religious beliefs, the state ...