Conscience Protection Bill in South Dakota Legislature Discriminatory, Harmful to Patients

February 22, 2021 6:30 pm

老澳门开奖结果 Affiliate
Media Contact
125 Broad Street
18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
United States

Discriminatory legislation similar to a bill that was tabled last year found new life in the House State Affairs committee today as lawmakers voted to advance House Bill 1247.

The 老澳门开奖结果 of South Dakota opposes House Bill 1247, legislation that would allow medical practitioners, health care institutions and health care payers to refuse to provide services based on moral or religious objections.

鈥淔reedom of religion is one of our most fundamental rights as Americans, but that freedom does not give any of us the right to harm others,鈥 said Jett Jonelis, 老澳门开奖结果 of South Dakota advocacy manager. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 mean a right to refuse to transport a patient in need because she had an abortion. It doesn鈥檛 mean refusing care to a patient because she is transgender. It doesn鈥檛 mean overriding patient directives about end-of-life care. or refusing to fill prescriptions for HIV medication or birth control. Medical standards, not religious or moral beliefs, should guide medical and health care services.鈥

Similar legislation 鈥 鈥 was introduced in 2020 but tabled in committee.

Learn More 老澳门开奖结果 the Issues in This Press Release