The Bush Administration moved forward with proposed regulations that would provide what they’re calling “freedom of conscience” for doctors who don’t want to perform abortions due to religious or moral objections.

Sp, if you were wondering how all those nasty, anti-choice folks that Bush appointed to random offices over the past eight years would actually lead to bad things happening, now you know. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, a Bush appointee who will ultimately decide whether this regulation goes through or not, has the following to say:

“Freedom of conscience is not to be surrendered upon issuance of a medical degree,” said Leavitt. “This nation was built on a foundation of free speech. The first principle of free speech is protected conscience.”

And by freedom of conscience, of course, he means the right, as a doctor, to deny your patients legal medical care cause you don’t wanna do it.

This is the man who is responsible for our nation’s health, and he is stating in no uncertain terms that women’s health comes second to doctor’s ideology. Nice.