Trump Administration Delays Healthcare Ruling

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – The Trump administration has agreed to postpone implementing a rule allowing medical workers to decline performing abortions or other treatments on moral or religious grounds while the so-called “conscience” rule is challenged in a California court. The rule was supposed to take effect on July 22 but the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its opponents in a California lawsuit mutually agreed Friday to delay a final ruling on the matter for four months. A federal judge in San Francisco permitted the change on Saturday. Opponents contend that the DHHS exceeded its authority with the rule and say it would deny health care to women and to homosexuals by giving prejudice the force of law.