Signed by Governor Brad Little

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that authorizes medical practitioners to refuse services and procedures they don't morally agree with in Idaho.

Highlights:

• Authorizes medical practitioners to abstain from performing procedures they don’t morally agree with (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that no health care professionals, institutions, or insurance payers must pay for any procedures or provide services they object to “based on conscience, whether such conscience is informed by religious, moral, or ethical beliefs or principles,” including (Sec. 1):

• Doctors;

• Nurses;

• Psychiatrists;

• Counselors;

• Social Workers;

• Pharmacists; and 

• Others in its scope.

• Exempts providers from being required to participate in services such as (Sec. 1):

• Testing;

• Diagnosis;

• Referrals;

• Prescribing; or 

• Administering any drug or medication.

• Establishes whistleblower and legal protection clauses for medical providers, that enable them to bring a civil lawsuit for potential violations of the proposed law (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that authorizes medical practitioners to refuse services and procedures they don't morally agree with in Idaho.

Highlights:

• Authorizes medical practitioners to abstain from performing procedures they don’t morally agree with (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that no health care professionals, institutions, or insurance payers must pay for any procedures or provide services they object to “based on conscience, whether such conscience is informed by religious, moral, or ethical beliefs or principles,” including (Sec. 1):

• Doctors;

• Nurses;

• Psychiatrists;

• Counselors;

• Social Workers;

• Pharmacists; and 

• Others in its scope.

• Exempts providers from being required to participate in services such as (Sec. 1):

• Testing;

• Diagnosis;

• Referrals;

• Prescribing; or 

• Administering any drug or medication.

• Establishes whistleblower and legal protection clauses for medical providers, that enable them to bring a civil lawsuit for potential violations of the proposed law (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes medical practitioners to refuse services and procedures they don't morally agree with in Idaho.

Highlights:

• Authorizes medical practitioners to abstain from performing procedures they don’t morally agree with (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that no health care professionals, institutions, or insurance payers must pay for any procedures or provide services they object to “based on conscience, whether such conscience is informed by religious, moral, or ethical beliefs or principles,” including (Sec. 1):

• Doctors;

• Nurses;

• Psychiatrists;

• Counselors;

• Social Workers;

• Pharmacists; and 

• Others in its scope.

• Exempts providers from being required to participate in services such as (Sec. 1):

• Testing;

• Diagnosis;

• Referrals;

• Prescribing; or 

• Administering any drug or medication.

• Establishes whistleblower and legal protection clauses for medical providers, that enable them to bring a civil lawsuit for potential violations of the proposed law (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text