Arkansas lawmakers are considering a "Healthcare Freedom of Conscience" bill that would protect healthcare workers from breaking their "religious and moral beliefs" to treat patients, according to an Arkansas Matters report.
The bill, HB 1628, recuses healthcare providers from participating in services that would violate their conscience. Designed to protect the religious and moral beliefs of healthcare providers, the report points out it could have unintended consequences.
For example, the bill would allow clinicians who are opposed to premarital sex the right to turn away care for unwed mothers. The bill's sponsor, State Rep. Bradt Smith, R-Jonesboro, maintains that providers who are presented with a patient they're uncomfortable treating can request that a colleague without the same moral or religious objections step in.
The bill covers physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, counselors and medical assistants, according to the report. It could come up for house committee consideration next week.