Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes medical professionals and health care institutions to decline to participate in certain medical procedures that violate their conscience.

Highlights:

• Exempts “medical professionals” and “health care institutions” from civil, criminal, or administrative liability for declining to participate in “specified medical procedures or research” that violates their “conscience” (Sec. A).

• Defines “medical professional” as any individual who may be asked to participate in any way in “specified medical procedures or research” including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. A):
• Physicians or physicians’ assistants;
• Nurses or nurses' aides;
• Medical assistants;
• Hospital or clinic employees;
• Social workers or counselors; and
• Medical or nursing school faculty members, employees, or students.

• Defines “health care institution” as any public or private organization or other entity that is involved in providing medical services, including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. A):
• Hospitals, clinics, and medical centers;
• Private physician’s offices;
• University medical and nursing schools; and
• Medical training facilities.

• Defines “specified medical procedures or research” as including but not being limited to the following (Sec. A):
• Abortion or abortion-inducing drugs;
• Contraception;
• Sterilization;
• Assisted reproduction;
• Human cloning; and
• Human embryonic stem cell research.

• Defines “conscience” as the religious, moral, or ethical principles held by a medical professional or health care institution (Sec. A).

• Prohibits any entity from discriminating against or denying aid, assistance, grants, or benefits to any medical professional or health care institution for declining to participate in research or procedures that violate their conscience (Sec. A).

Full Bill Text