Introduced
by
To establish in statute the right of a health facility to assert as a matter of conscience, on ethical, moral, or religious grounds, an objection to providing or participating in a health care procedure (such as abortion). A facility claiming this “conscientious objector” status could not be subjected to civil, criminal, or administrative liability for refusing to perform the objectionable procedure, or discriminated against in the awarding of grants, contracts, etc. which do not require the procedure. (Note: State law already prohibits using tax dollars for abortions.) This immunity would not apply in cases involving a disagreement with a health care professional about the medical appropriateness of a certain procedure which is routinely done by the facility.
Referred to the Committee on Health Policy
