Louisiana House Panel Scraps Provider 'Conscience' Bill; Sponsor Could Reintroduce Next Week

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Abortion
Article Date: 07 May 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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A Louisiana House committee on Monday voted down a bill (H.B. 517) that would have allowed health care providers to refuse to provide medical services or information that they object to on religious or moral grounds, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports. Lawmakers opposing the bill said that its language was too broad and that it would have allowed doctors to refuse to make referrals and pharmacists to deny filling prescriptions. Opponents also noted that the bill did not include exceptions for emergency situations or language to notify patients that providers might withhold information.

State Rep. Bernard LeBas (D), who sponsored the bill, said it was aimed at doctors who do not want to perform abortions, human cloning and euthanasia. Although the federal Civil Rights Act, the Hippocratic Oath and professional standards already protect providers with moral or religious objections, supporters of the bill say it is needed to clarify those protections. State Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine said the bill has the support of Gov. Bobby Jindal (R). LeBas said he would rework the bill and reintroduce it next week (Chacko, Baton Rouge Advocate, 5/5).

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