Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ha signed new legislation which will prevent hospitals and medical care facilities from firing doctors and nurses who refuse to perform abortions because of their religious objections.
On Thursday, DeSantis signed SB 1580 into law to protect medical care providers from being forced to perform abortions.
Per Life News:
The legislation provides that health care providers and health care payors have the right to opt out of participation in or payment for certain health care services on the basis of conscience-based objections. It would allow them to refuse to participate in abortions or other objectionable activities based on their moral, ethical or religious beliefs.
The legislation defined “conscience-based objection” as based on “a sincerely held religious, moral, or ethical belief” while, at the same time, protecting unfair discrimination against patients based on their race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
Importantly, it ensures that any state medical board or the Department of Health can’t take any actions against doctors or other medical professionals for refusing to do abortions.
“Americans shouldn’t be forced to violate their ethical and religious beliefs, and this certainly includes doctors, nurses, and other medical providers. Thankfully, SB 1580 is a strong step in outlining comprehensive protections in Florida law for medical conscience and freedom of speech for medical providers,” said Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Stephanie Nichols.
“The legislation ensures that medical professionals aren’t compelled to breach their oath to ‘do no harm’ by being required to participate in procedures or treatments that violate their conscience. Forcing doctors, nurses, and other medical providers to choose between their faith or their profession will drive many from the workforce and lead to fewer health care options for patients at a time when our nation’s health care system is overstretched and experiencing a dire shortage of providers,” Nichols added.
This new law will go into effect on July 1 of this year.
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