Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee Signs Bill Protecting Doctors From Being Forced to Do Abortions
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has signed a pro-life bill protecting the conscience rights of medical professionals like doctors and nurse who don’t want to be forced to participate in abortions.
The bill creates conscience protections for doctors who are morally opposed to certain medical practices, including abortion.
While Tennessee is one of a couple dozen states with abortion bans that protect the lives of unborn children, abortions can still be done in very limited situations. Also, if the law is ever overturned, pro-life doctors and nurses want to be sure their conscience rights are protected to excuse themselves from abortions that will kill unborn babies.
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The bill also applies to other medical situations where pro-life medical workers could be required to participate in something like IVF, surrogacy, assisted suicide or euthanasia or other procedures that violate their pro-life consciences.
Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Greg Chafuen hailed the governor’s signature on the Medical Ethics Defense Act, SB 955.
“Patients are best served by health care professionals who are free to act consistent with their oath to ‘do no harm.’ Unfortunately, doctors and nurses have been targeted for caring for their patients by refraining from harmful and dangerous procedures,” he told LifeNews. “This ends up discouraging countless young professionals from entering the health care field because of fear that they will be forced to violate their conscience.”
He continued: “Tennessee’s MED Act ensures that health care professionals are not forced to participate in procedures that violate their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. ADF commends Sen. Pro Tempore Ferrell Haile, Rep. Bryan Terry, and the Tennessee Legislature for their fortitude, and we thank Gov. Lee for standing with health care professionals and the patients they serve by enacting the MED Act. We also thank Tennessee Right to Life for its monumental work on this effort. Now, Tennessee health care heroes are free to care for all patients in a compassionate, ethical manner.”
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