Medical Ethics Defense Act (S 305)

We strongly opposed legislation which would essentially immunize virtually all medical professionals, licensed or in training, support staff, and institutions from providing basic and necessary medical care, including emergency and life-saving treatment based on the provider's "ethical, moral, or religious belief or principles." Rhode Island already provides a protection to physicians and medical staff who object to participating in an abortion or sterilization procedure on moral or religious grounds, but this legislation is far more sweeping in scope and coverage. This bill provides no limit to the type of "medical procedure or service" which the objector could decline to provide, and the use of "discrimination" in the proposed legislation is designed to protect solely the objecting person or institution and provides no protection from discrimination to the person seeking or in grave need of medical or emergency care.