A bill that would allow health care providers and payers to refuse to provide health care services based on subjectively held moral, ethical, or religious beliefs is moving quickly through legislatures and will soon sent to the governor for signature. This bill (SB 1580/HB 1403) creates a state-sanctioned license to discriminate in the provision of any health care service.
The bill is, frankly, shocking in its breadth and ambiguity, and the government’s outreach to the private sector and regulated businesses.
Not only would the bill allow providers and entities to refuse medical care, but it would also allow employees to refuse medical care if they claim it was for ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. Prevent employers from taking unfavorable action against employees who refuse such medical care. Employers are therefore forced to retain employees who refuse to work.
This Governor and Congress need to think long and hard about the potential impact of such a sweeping and harmful bill on public health and the private sector.
The bill is too broad to cover not only physicians, but health care providers licensed under 12 different statutes, including physicians, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals, mental health providers, medical transport services, and clinical laboratory personnel. or include facilities. This applies to both public and private schools, colleges and universities. This applies to health insurance companies, employers and HMOs.or any other entity that pays for or arranges payment for healthcare services. “ This includes medical research, medical procedures, testing, diagnosis, referral, medication, treatment, record keeping, andOther Care or Services. “
The bill goes far beyond the claim of religious freedom, as it applies not only to religious opposition, but also to moral and ethical beliefs. Does the legislature really want private companies to retain employees who refuse to work on the basis of subjectively asserted ethical or moral beliefs?
What does this mean? The bill has no moral or ethical definition. What constitutes moral or ethical beliefs held in good faith and, more importantly, why should access to health care be denied on the basis of such vague, imprecise and subjective terms? Who decides if there is
What if someone’s ethical or moral belief is that women should not have children unless they are married? Or that the poor should have only one child? Or if they believe it is unethical to bring a child into this world given overpopulation and climate change? Can refuse to provide prenatal health care to the pregnant woman Can an employer refuse to provide health insurance that covers pregnancy, labour, and childbirth? can I refuse to schedule a follow-up appointment?
Can a pharmacist refuse to sell the morning after pill if a healthcare provider believes it is unethical to prevent conception? Can a nurse refuse to refill prescriptions for contraception?
The bill includes narrow exceptions that would likely prevent providers from refusing to provide care “because” of a patient’s “race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.” However, whenever a barrier arises between the patient and the patient’s ability, it goes without saying. Those already marginalized are the most vulnerable to access to healthcare. Black and brown people, low-resource populations, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, rural communities, and more.
Marginalized communities already struggling to access quality and affordable health care will benefit from this sweeping bill that will allow health care providers and payers to refuse to provide care. You will suffer proportional losses. Floridians need greater access to affordable health care, but we oppose this bill.
Religious freedom is one of our most fundamental rights as Americans, but it does not give us the right to harm others. The bill goes far beyond religious objections and allows people to refuse health care services based on claims that they are ethical or ethical. moral beliefs.
This bill goes too far, threatens health care delivery for Florida’s more than 22 million residents, and is out of step with the rest of the country. Medical standards, not ethical, moral, or religious beliefs, should guide treatment and healthcare services.
Kara Gross is the Legislative Director and Senior Policy Counsel for the ACLU in Florida.
join the conversation
Submit a letter to the editor (200 words maximum) or Your Turn column (approximately 500 words).letters@tallahassee.comPlease include your address for verification purposes only. Also, if you send your turn, please include a photo and a 1-2 line bio. You can also send Zing! anonymously. Tallahassee.com/Zing. Submissions will be published based on available space. All submissions are subject to redaction for content, clarity and length and may be published by any part of the USA TODAY NETWORK.