Conscience Protection Act: Prohibiting discrimination against health entities refusing abortion participation.
This bill aims to strengthen the rights of healthcare workers and entities to refuse participation in abortion procedures based on moral or religious convictions. It prohibits the federal government or any recipient of federal funds from penalizing or discriminating against healthcare entities (including doctors, nurses, pharmacies, and insurers) for declining to provide, pay for, or facilitate abortion. Crucially, it grants individuals and entities whose conscience rights are violated the ability to file a civil lawsuit directly in court.
Key points
Non-Discrimination Mandate: Federal government and federally funded entities are barred from penalizing or discriminating against healthcare entities for not participating in, paying for, or facilitating abortion services.
Private Right of Action: Individuals and entities adversely affected by a violation of federal conscience laws gain the right to file a civil action in court to seek relief, including compensatory damages and injunctive relief, without exhausting administrative remedies first.
Enhanced Enforcement: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) is mandated to investigate complaints and is authorized to enforce compliance by terminating federal financial assistance to states or entities that violate conscience protection laws.
Broad Scope of Protection: The definition of 'health care entity' is extensive, covering individual personnel (physicians, pharmacists), hospitals, health systems, insurers, and medical training programs.
Expired
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