Conscience
Protection in Various States
Only
two states (IL and MS) protect the rights of
conscience of all health care providers, institutions
and payers who decline to provide any health care service
based on a violation of their conscience.
Forty-five
state laws permit only certain health care providers
or institutions, or both, to refuse to participate in limited
services, usually abortion only, on the basis of religious or
moral beliefs: AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL,
GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT,
NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX,
UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY.
Three
states provide no protection for the rights of
conscience of healthcare providers.: ALABAMA , NEW HAMPSHIRE,
and VERMONT
•
[Note: Americans United for Life has drafted
model legislation which would extend protection of conscience
rights to all health care providers, institutions, and payers
who decline to provide any health care service that conflicts
with their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. You may download
a copy of the “Health Care Rights of Conscience Act”
on their website http://aul.org/]
