State lawmakers advance conscience protections for healthcare workers

Medical professionals in Tennessee now have legal protections in place allowing them to decide whether or not to participate in certain procedures or treatments based on their personal convictions. Gov. Bill Lee last week signed into law the so-called Medical Ethics Defense Act which permits healthcare providers, institutions, and insurance companies to opt out of services that go against their sincerely held moral, ethical, or religious beliefs. The bill also protects individuals who report providers for violating the law, and prohibits the state from taking actions against healthcare workers for engaging in free speech.

Why is this bill so important? Some young people have refrained from entering the medical field over concerns that they could be required to perform services that go against their beliefs, said Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Greg Chafuen. The bill will protect medical professionals from experiencing retaliation for refusing to participate in procedures like abortions or transgender interventions.

Have other states considered medical ethics bills? A similar measure is making its way through the Iowa state legislature after the House of Representatives passed the bill last month. The law is now due to be considered by the state senate. Idaho passed its own law earlier this year. Meanwhile, Colorado lawmakers last month indefinitely postponed a medical ethics bill that was also intended to protect providers.

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, and Washington all have some form of conscience protections, according to the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy at First Liberty Institute.

Dig deeper: Read Leah Savas’ report in Vitals about how a Tennessee IVF provider is trying to make the process more ethical.