Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes health care professional and institutions to decline to perform specified research and procedures.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a medical professional to refuse to participate in, refer for, or promote “specified medical research or procedures” that violate his or her religious, moral, or ethical principles if the medical professional provides “reasonable” notice under the circumstances of his or her intent to not participate (Sec. A). 

• Defines “specified medical research or procedures” as actions that include, but are not limited to, the following actions (Sec. A):
• Abortion;
• Administering abortion-inducing drugs;
• Assisted reproduction;
• Human cloning; and
• Human embryonic stem-cell research.

• Specifies that nothing in this bill would authorize a medical professional or health care institution to withhold emergency medical treatment or services necessary to save the life of a patient (Sec. A).

• Specifies that nothing in this bill would relieve a medical professional from his or her duty to inform a patient of the patient’s health condition, risks, or prognosis and the medical options and health care resources available to the patient (Sec. A).

• Prohibits an individual, medical professional, public official, or the following entities from discriminating against a medical professional who declined to participate in specified medical procedures that violate his or her conscience (Sec. A):
• A health care institution;
• The state of Missouri;
• A political subdivision;
• A public or private institution; or
• A board which certifies competency in medical specialties.

• Prohibits a public official, agency, institution, or entity from denying aid, grants, or benefits or disqualifying or discriminating against an individual, association, corporation, or other entity attempting to establish or operate a health care institution because the institution declines to participate in specified medical procedures (Sec. A).

• Prohibits a health care institution that declines to provide or participate in specified medical research and procedures from being civilly, criminally, or administratively liable if the institution provides a consent form to be signed by a patient before admission to the institution stating that the institution reserves the right to decline to provide specified medical research and procedures (Sec. A).

Full Bill Text