FCCB Supported Medical Conscience Protections Passed by Senate

SB 1580 (Trumbull) was approved by the full Senate on Friday by a 28-11 vote. "Nothing in this bill allows a medical professional to decline to serve a patient because of who they are," said bill sponsor Senator Jay Trumbull in his closing statement. "Rather, it specifically focuses on what procedure the doctor or nurse is asked to perform and protects them from performing anything that violates their religious, moral or ethical beliefs." 

SB 1580 and its House companion, HB 1403 (Rudman), provide health care providers and payors with the right to opt out of participation in, or payment for, any health care service on the basis of a conflict of conscience. The measure creates whistleblower protections and a cause of action for violations of medical conscience protections.

The legislation also includes a free speech component that protects individuals from disciplinary actions by medical boards or associations for speaking or writing publicly about a health care service provided that the individual’s speech is not medical advice or treatment provided to a specific patient.

SB 1580 is in messages to the House where HB 1403 remains on the House Special Order Calendar on second reading.