United States
States and Territories
Three states have no protection of conscience laws: Alabama, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Illinois
745 ILCS 30/0.01 Abortion Performance Refusal Act
Sec. 0.01. Short title.
This Act may be cited as
the Abortion Performance Refusal Act.
(Source: P.A. 86-1324.) (745 ILCS 30/1)
(a) No physician, nurse or other person who refuses to recommend, perform or assist in the performance of an abortion, whether such abortion be a crime or not, shall be liable to any person for damages allegedly arising from such refusal.
(b) No hospital that refuses to permit the performance of an abortion upon its premises, whether such abortion be a crime or not, shall be liable to any person for damages allegedly arising from such refusal.
(c) Any person, association, partnership or corporation that discriminates against another person in any way, including, but not limited to, hiring, promotion, advancement, transfer, licensing, granting of hospital privileges, or staff appointments, because of that person's refusal to recommend, perform or assist in the performance of an abortion, whether such abortion be a crime or not, shall be answerable in civil damages equal to 3 times the amount of proved damages, but in no case less than $2,000.
(d) The license of any hospital, doctor, nurse or any other medical personnel shall not be revoked or suspended because of a refusal to permit, recommend, perform or assist in the performance of an abortion. (Source: P. A. 78-228.)
745 ILCS 70/1 Health Care Right of Conscience Act.
Sec. 1. Short title.
This Act may be cited as the Health Care Right of Conscience Act.
(Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/2)
Sec. 2. Findings and policy.
The General Assembly finds and declares that people and organizations hold different beliefs about whether certain health care services are morally acceptable. It is the public policy of the State of Illinois to respect and protect the right of conscience of all persons who refuse to obtain, receive or accept, or who are engaged in, the delivery of, arrangement for, or payment of health care services and medical care whether acting individually, corporately, or in association with other persons; and to prohibit all forms of discrimination, disqualification, coercion, disability or imposition of liability upon such persons or entities by reason of their refusing to act contrary to their conscience or conscientious convictions in refusing to obtain, receive, accept, deliver, pay for, or arrange for the payment of health care services and medical care. (Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/3)Sec. 3. Definitions.
As used in this Act, unless the context clearly otherwise requires:(a) "Health care" means any phase of patient care, including but not limited to, testing; diagnosis; prognosis; ancillary research; instructions; family planning, counselling, referrals, or any other advice in connection with the use or procurement of contraceptives and sterilization or abortion procedures; medication; or surgery or other care or treatment rendered by a physician or physicians, nurses, paraprofessionals or health care facility, intended for the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of persons;
(b) "Physician" means any person who is licensed by the State of Illinois under the Medical Practice Act of 1987;
(c) "Health care personnel" means any nurse, nurses' aide, medical school student, professional, paraprofessional or any other person who furnishes, or assists in the furnishing of, health care services;
(d) "Health care facility" means any public or private hospital, clinic, center, medical school, medical training institution, laboratory or diagnostic facility, physician's office, infirmary, dispensary, ambulatory surgical treatment center or other institution or location wherein health care services are provided to any person, including physician organizations and associations, networks, joint ventures, and all other combinations of those organizations;
(e) "Conscience" means a sincerely held set of moral convictions arising from belief in and relation to God, or which, though not so derived, arises from a place in the life of its possessor parallel to that filled by God among adherents to religious faiths; and
(f) "Health care payer" means a health maintenance organization, insurance company, management services organization, or any other entity that pays for or arranges for the payment of any health care or medical care service, procedure, or product. The above definitions include not only the traditional combinations and forms of these persons and organizations but also all new and emerging forms and combinations of these persons and organizations. (Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/4)
Sec. 4. Liability.
No physician or health care personnel shall be civilly or criminally liable to any person, estate, public or private entity or public official by reason of his or her refusal to perform, assist, counsel, suggest, recommend, refer or participate in any way in any particular form of health care service which is contrary to the conscience of such physician or health care personnel. (Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/5)Sec. 5. Discrimination.
It shall be unlawful for any person, public or private institution, or public official to discriminate against any person in any manner, including but not limited to, licensing, hiring, promotion, transfer, staff appointment, hospital, managed care entity, or any other privileges, because of such person's conscientious refusal to receive, obtain, accept, perform, assist, counsel, suggest, recommend, refer or participate in any way in any particular form of health care services contrary to his or her conscience. (Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/6)Sec. 6. Duty of physicians and other health care personnel. Nothing in this Act shall relieve a physician from any duty, which may exist under any laws concerning current standards, of normal medical practices and procedures, to inform his or her patient of the patient's condition, prognosis and risks, provided, however, that such physician shall be under no duty to perform, assist, counsel, suggest, recommend, refer or participate in any way in any form of medical practice or health care service that is contrary to his or her conscience. Nothing in this Act shall be construed so as to relieve a physician or other health care personnel from obligations under the law of providing emergency medical care. (Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/7)
Sec. 7. Discrimination by employers or institutions.
It shall be unlawful for any public or private employer, entity, agency, institution, official or person, including but not limited to, a medical, nursing or other medical training institution, to deny admission because of, to place any reference in its application form concerning, to orally question about, to impose any burdens in terms or conditions of employment on, or to otherwise discriminate against, any applicant, in terms of employment, admission to or participation in any programs for which the applicant is eligible, or to discriminate in relation thereto, in any other manner, on account of the applicant's refusal to receive, obtain, accept, perform, counsel, suggest, recommend, refer, assist or participate in any way in any forms of health care services contrary to his or her conscience. (Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/8)Sec. 8. Denial of aid or benefits.
It shall be unlawful for any public official, guardian, agency, institution or entity to deny any form of aid, assistance or benefits, or to condition the reception in any way of any form of aid, assistance or benefits, or in any other manner to coerce, disqualify or discriminate against any person, otherwise entitled to such aid, assistance or benefits, because that person refuses to obtain, receive, accept, perform, assist, counsel, suggest, recommend, refer or participate in any way in any form of health care services contrary to his or her conscience. (Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/9)Sec. 9. Liability.
No person, association, or corporation, which owns, operates, supervises, or manages a health care facility shall be civilly or criminally liable to any person, estate, or public or private entity by reason of refusal of the health care facility to permit or provide any particular form of health care service which violates the facility's conscience as documented in its ethical guidelines, mission statement, constitution, bylaws, articles of incorporation, regulations, or other governing documents. Nothing in this act shall be construed so as to relieve a physician or other health care personnel from obligations under the law of providing emergency medical care. (Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/10)Sec. 10. Discrimination against facility.
It shall be unlawful for any person, public or private institution or public official to discriminate against any person, association or corporation attempting to establish a new health care facility or operating an existing health care facility, in any manner, including but not limited to, denial, deprivation or disqualification in licensing, granting of authorizations, aids, assistance, benefits, medical staff or any other privileges, and granting authorization to expand, improve, or create any health care facility, by reason of the refusal of such person, association or corporation planning, proposing or operating a health care facility, to permit or perform any particular form of health care service which violates the health care facility's conscience as documented in its existing or proposed ethical guidelines, mission statement, constitution, bylaws, articles of incorporation, regulations, or other governing documents. (Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/11)Sec. 11. Denial of aid or benefit to a facility.
It shall be unlawful for any public official, agency, institution or entity to deny any form of aid, assistance, grants or benefits; or in any other manner to coerce, disqualify or discriminate against any person, association or corporation attempting to establish a new health care facility or operating an existing health care facility which otherwise would be entitled to the aid, assistance, grant or benefit because the existing or proposed health care facility refuses to perform, assist, counsel, suggest, recommend, refer or participate in any way in any form of health care services contrary to the health care facility's conscience as documented in its existing or proposed ethical guidelines, mission statement, constitution, bylaws, articles of incorporation, regulations, or other governing documents. (Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/11.2)Sec. 11.2. Liability of health care payer.
No health care payer and no person, association, or corporation that owns, operates, supervises, or manages a health care payer shall be civilly or criminally liable to any person, estate, or public or private entity by reason of refusal of the health care payer to pay for or arrange for the payment of any particular form of health care services that violate the health care payer's conscience as documented in its ethical guidelines, mission statement, constitution, bylaws, articles of incorporation, regulations, or other governing documents. (Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/11.3)
Sec. 11.3. Discrimination against
health care payer in licensing.
It shall be unlawful for any person, public or private institution, or
public official to discriminate against any person, association, or
corporation(i) attempting to establish a new health care payer or
(ii) operating an existing health care payer, in any manner, including but not limited to, denial, deprivation, or disqualification in licensing; granting of authorizations, aids, assistance, benefits, or any other privileges; and granting authorization to expand, improve, or create any health care payer, because the person, association, or corporation planning, proposing, or operating a health care payer refuses to pay for or arrange for the payment of any particular form of health care services that violates the health care payer's conscience as documented in the existing or proposed ethical guidelines, mission statement, constitution, bylaws, articles of incorporation, regulations or other governing documents. (Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/11.4)
Sec. 11.4. Denial of aid or benefits to health care payer for refusal to participate in certain health care.
It shall be unlawful for any public official, agency, institution, or entity to deny any form of aid, assistance, grants, or benefits; or in any other manner to coerce, disqualify, or discriminate against any person, association, or corporation attempting to establish a new health care payer or operating an existing health care payer that otherwise would be entitled to the aid, assistance, grant, or benefit because the existing or proposed health care payer refuses to pay for, arrange for the payment of, or participate in any way in any form of health care services contrary to the health care payer's conscience as documented in its existing or proposed ethical guidelines, mission statement, constitution, bylaws, articles of incorporation, regulations, or other governing documents. (Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/12)
Sec. 12. Actions; damages.
Any person, association, corporation, entity or health care facility
injured by any public or private person, association, agency, entity or
corporation by reason of any action prohibited by this Act may commence a
suit therefor, and shall recover threefold the actual damages, including
pain and suffering, sustained by such person, association, corporation,
entity or health care facility, the costs of the suit and reasonable
attorney's fees; but in no case shall recovery be less than $2,500 for
each violation in addition to costs of the suit and reasonable attorney's
fees. These damage remedies shall be cumulative, and not exclusive of
other remedies afforded under any other state or federal law. (Source:
P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/13)Sec. 13. Liability for refusal to provide certain health care.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as excusing any person, public or private institution, or public official from liability for refusal to permit or provide a particular form of health care service if:(a) the person, public or private institution or public official has entered into a contract specifically to provide that particular form of health care service; or
(b) the person, public or private institution or public official has accepted federal or state funds for the sole purpose of, and specifically conditioned upon, permitting or providing that particular form of health care service. (Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.) (745 ILCS 70/14)
Sec. 14. Supersedes other Acts.
This Act shall supersede all other Acts or parts of Acts to the extent that any Acts or parts of Acts are inconsistent with the terms or operation of this Act. (Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.)
Indiana
Indiana Code Article 34.Abortion
IC16-34-1-3
Sec. 3. No private or denominational hospital shall be required to permit its facilities
to be utilized for the performance of abortions. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.17.
IC16-34-1-4
Sec. 4. No: (1) physician; or (2) employee or member of the staff of a hospital or other
facility in which an abortion may be performed; shall be required to perform an
abortion or to assist or participate in the medical procedures resulting in or intended to
result in an abortion, if that individual objects to such procedures on ethical, moral, or
religious grounds. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.17.
IC16-34-1-5
Sec. 5. No person shall be required, as a condition of training, employment, pay,
promotion, or privileges, to agree to perform or participate in the performing of
abortions. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.17.IC16-34-1-6
Sec. 6. No hospital or other person shall discriminate against or discipline a person because of the person's moral beliefs concerning abortion. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.17.IC16-34-1-7
Sec. 7. A civil action for damages or reinstatement of employment, or both, may be brought for any violation of sections 4 through 6 of this chapter.
Iowa
Iowa Code
146.1 Liability of persons relating to performance of abortions.
An individual who may lawfully perform, assist, or participate in medical procedures which will result in an abortion shall not be required against that individual's religious beliefs or moral convictions to perform, assist, or participate in such procedures. A person shall not discriminate against any individual in any way, including but not limited to employment, promotion, advancement, transfer, licensing, education, training or the granting of hospital privileges or staff appointments, because of the individual's participation in or refusal to participate in recommending, performing or assisting in an abortion procedure. For the purposes of this chapter, "abortion" means the termination of a human pregnancy with the intent other than to produce a live birth or to remove a dead fetus. Abortion does not include medical care which has as its primary purpose the treatment of a serious physical condition requiring emergency medical treatment necessary to save the life of a mother.146.2 Liability of hospitals refusing to perform abortions.
A hospital, which is not controlled, maintained and supported by a public authority, shall not be required to permit the performance of an abortion. The refusal to permit such procedures shall not be grounds for civil liability to any person nor a basis for any disciplinary or other recriminatory action against the hospital.
Kansas
Chapter 65.--Public Health
Article 4.--Hospitals and Other Facilities
65-443. Termination of human
pregnancy; performance or participation in medical procedures not required.
No person shall be required to perform or participate in medical procedures which result
in the termination of a pregnancy, and the refusal of any person to perform or participate
in those medical procedures shall not be a basis for civil liability to any person. No
hospital, hospital administrator or governing board of any hospital shall terminate the
employment of, prevent or impair the practice or occupation of or impose any other
sanction on any person because of such person's refusal to perform or participate in the
termination of any human pregnancy. History: L. 1969, ch. 182, § 1; L. 1975, ch. 313, § 1; July 1.
Kentucky
Kentucky Revised Statutes
311.800 Abortions in publicly owned hospital or health care facility prohibited --Exception -- Injunction to enforce compliance -- Abortions in private hospital or health care facility -- Unlawful discriminatory practices.
(3) No private hospital or private health care facility shall be required to, or held liable for refusal to, perform or permit the performance of abortion contrary to its stated ethical policy.(4) No physician, nurse staff member or employee of a public or private hospital or employee of a public or private health care facility, who shall state in writing to such hospital or health care facility his objection to performing, participating in, or cooperating in, abortion on moral, religious or professional grounds, be required to, or held liable for refusal to, perform, participate in, or cooperate in such abortion.
(5) It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for the following:
(a) Any person to impose penalties or take disciplinary action against, or to deny or limit public funds, licenses, certifications, degrees, or other approvals or documents of qualification to, any hospital or other health care facility due to the refusal of such hospital or health care facility to perform or permit to be performed, participate in, or cooperate in, abortion by reason of objection thereto on moral, religious or professional grounds, or because of any statement or other manifestation of attitude by such hospital or health care facility with respect to abortion; or,
(b) Any person to impose penalties or take disciplinary action against, or to deny or limit public funds, licenses, certifications, degrees, or other approvals or documents of qualification to any physician, nurse or staff member or employee of any hospital or health care facility, due to the willingness or refusal of such physician, nurse or staff member or employee to perform or participate in abortion by reason of objection thereto on moral, religious or professional grounds, or because of any statement or other manifestation of attitude by such physician, nurse or staff member or employee with respect to abortion; or,
(c) Any public or private agency, institution or person, including a medical, nursing or other school, to deny admission to, impose any burdens in terms of conditions of employment upon, or otherwise discriminate against any applicant for admission thereto or any physician, nurse, staff member, student or employee thereof, on account of the willingness or refusal of such applicant, physician, nurse, staff member, student or employee to perform or participate in abortion or sterilization by reason of objection thereto on moral, religious or professional grounds, or because of any statement or other manifestation of attitude by such person with respect to abortion or sterilization if that health care facility is not operated exclusively for the purposes of performing abortions or sterilizations.
Effective: July 15, 1980
History: Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 225, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1980. -- Created
1974 Ky. Acts ch. 255, sec. 11.
311.810 Discrimination for refusal to submit to abortion prohibited.
No woman may be denied governmental assistance or be otherwise discriminated against or otherwise subjected to coercion in any way for accepting or refusing to accept or submit to an abortion, which she may do or not do for any reason without explanation. History: Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 255, sec. 12.
Louisiana
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 40, § 1299.31.
No . . . person or corporation shall be held civilly . . . liable, discriminated against, . . . or in any way prejudiced or damaged because of his refusal for any reason to recommend, counsel, perform, assist with or accommodate an abortion.
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 40, § 1299.32.
No hospital, clinic or other facility or institution of any kind shall be
held civilly. . . liable, discriminated against, or in any way prejudiced
or damaged because of any refusal to permit or accommodate the performance
of any abortion in said facility or under its auspices. La. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 40, § 1299.33.
No hospital, clinic, or other medical or health facility, whether public or private, shall ever be denied governmental assistance or be otherwise discriminated against or otherwise be pressured in any way for refusing to permit its facilities, staff or employees to be used in any way for the purpose of performing any abortion.
Maine
Maine Revised Statutes
Title 22
Subtitle 2: Health
Part 3: Public Health (Heading: PL 1989, c. 487, @11 (rpr))
Chapter 263-B: Abortions
§ 1591. Immunity and employment protection
No physician, nurse or other person who refuses to perform or assist in the
performance of an abortion, and no hospital or health care facility that refuses to permit
the performance of an abortion upon its premises, shall be liable to any person, firm,
association or corporation for damages allegedly arising from the refusal, nor shall such
refusal constitute a basis for any civil liability to any physician, nurse or other
person, hospital or health care facility nor a basis for any disciplinary or other
recriminatory action against them or any of them by the State or any person. [1977, c.
696, § 186 (new).]No physician, nurse or other person, who refuses to perform or assist in the performance of an abortion, shall, because of that refusal, be dismissed, suspended, demoted or otherwise prejudiced or damaged by a hospital, health care facility, firm, association, professional association, corporation or educational institution with which he or she is affiliated or requests to be affiliated or by which he or she is employed, nor shall such refusal constitute grounds for loss of any privileges or immunities to which such physician, nurse or other person would otherwise be entitled nor shall submission to an abortion or the granting of consent therefor be a condition precedent to the receipt of any public benefits. [1977, c. 696, § 186 (new).]
§ 1592. Discrimination for refusal
No person, hospital, health care facility, firm, association, corporation or educational institution, directly or indirectly, by himself or another, shall discriminate against any physician, nurse or other person by refusing or withholding employment from or denying admittance, when such physician, nurse or other person refuses to perform, or assist in the performance of an abortion, nor shall such refusal constitute grounds for loss of any privileges or immunities to which such physician, nurse or other person would otherwise be entitled. [1977, c. 696, § 186 (new).]§1903. Authority and policy
4. Objections. No private institution or physician or no agent or employee of such institution or physician shall be prohibited from refusing to provide family planning services when such refusal is based upon religious or conscientious objection. [ 1973, c. 624, §1 (NEW)]
Maryland
Maryland Statutes
§ 20-214. Health - General
(a) (1) A person may not be required to perform or participate in, or refer to any
source for, any medical procedure that results in artificial insemination, sterilization,
or termination of pregnancy.
(2) The refusal of a person to perform or participate in, or refer to a source for, these
medical procedures may not be a basis for:
(i) Civil liability to another person; or
(ii) Disciplinary or other recriminatory action against the person.
(b)(1) A licensed hospital, hospital director, or hospital governing board may not be required:
(i) To permit, within the hospital, the performance of any medical procedure that results in artificial insemination, sterilization, or termination of pregnancy; or
(ii) To refer to any source for these medical procedures.
(2) The refusal to permit or to refer to a source for these procedures may not be grounds for:
(i) Civil liability to another person; or
(ii) Disciplinary or other recriminatory action against the person by this State or any person.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a health care provider, a licensed hospital, a hospital director, or a hospital governing board is not immune from civil damages, if available at law, or from disciplinary or other recriminatory action, if the failure to refer a patient to a source for any medical procedure that results in sterilization or termination of pregnancy would reasonably be determined as:
(1) The cause of death or serious physical injury or serious long-lasting injury to the patient; and
(2) Otherwise contrary to the standards of medical care.
Massachusetts
General Laws of Massachusetts
Chapter 112: Section 12I. Abortion or sterilization procedures; refusal of hospital or health facility staff members or employees to participate.
Section 12I. A physician or any other person who is a member of or associated with the medical staff of a hospital or other health facility or any employee of a hospital or other health facility in which an abortion or any sterilization procedure is scheduled and who shall state in writing an objection to such abortion or sterilization procedure on moral or religious grounds, shall not be required to participate in the medical procedures which result in such abortion or sterilization, and the refusal of any such person to participate therein shall not form the basis for any claim of damages on account of such refusal or for any disciplinary or recriminatory action against such person. The refusal of any person who has made application to a medical, premedical, nursing, social work, or psychology program in the commonwealth to agree to counsel, suggest, recommend, assist, or in any way participate in the performance of an abortion or sterilization contrary to his religious beliefs or moral convictions shall not form the basis for any discriminatory action against such person. Conscientious objection to abortion shall not be grounds for dismissal, suspension, demotion, failure to promote, discrimination in hiring, withholding of pay or refusal to grant financial assistance under any state aided project, or used in any way to the detriment of the individual in any hospital, clinic, medical, premedical, nursing, social work, or psychology school or state aided program or institution which is supported in whole or in part by the commonwealth.
Chapter 272: Section 21B. Privately controlled hospital or health facility not required to perform abortion or sterilization procedures, or to furnish contraceptive devices or information or family planning services.
Section 21B. No privately controlled hospital or other health facility shall be required to admit any patient for the purpose of performing an abortion, performing any sterilization procedure, or receiving contraceptive devices or information.No privately controlled hospital or other privately controlled health facility shall be required to permit any patient to have an abortion, or any sterilization procedure performed in said hospital or other health facility, or to furnish contraceptive devices or information to such patient, nor shall such a hospital or other health facility be required to furnish any family planning services within or through said hospital or other health facility or to make referrals to any other hospital or health facility for such services when said services or referrals are contrary to the religious or moral principles of said hospital or said health facility as expressed in its charter, by-laws or code of ethics, or vote of its governing body.
Any such hospital or other health facility exercising the rights granted in this section shall not on account of the exercise thereof, be disciplined or discriminated against in any manner or suffer any adverse determination by any person, firm, corporation, or other entity, including but in no way limited to any political subdivision, board, commission, department, authority, or agency of the commonwealth.
Michigan
333.20181 Abortion ; admitting patient not required; refusal to perform, participate in, or allow; immunity. [M.S.A. 14.15(20181)]
Sec. 20181. A hospital, clinic, institution, teaching institution, or other health facility is not required to admit a patient for the purpose of performing an abortion . A hospital, clinic, institution, teaching institution, or other health facility or a physician, member, or associate of the staff, or other person connected therewith, may refuse to perform, participate in, or allow to be performed on its premises an abortion . The refusal shall be with immunity from any civil or criminal liability or penalty.History: 1978, Act 368, Eff. Sept. 30, 1978
333.20182 Abortion ; objection; participation in medical procedures not required; immunity. [M.S.A. 14.15(20182)]
Sec. 20182. A physician, or other individual who is a member of or associated with a hospital, clinic, institution, teaching institution, or other health facility, or a nurse, medical student, student nurse, or other employee of a hospital, clinic, institution, teaching institution, or other health facility in which an abortion is performed, who states an objection to abortion on professional, ethical, moral, or religious grounds, is not required to participate in the medical procedures which will result in abortion . The refusal by the individual to participate does not create a liability for damages on account of the refusal or for any disciplinary or discriminatory action by the patient, hospital, clinic, institution, teaching institution, or other health facility against the individual. History: 1978, Act 368, Eff. Sept. 30, 1978333.20183 Abortion ; refusal to give advice; refusal to participate in; immunity. [M.S.A. 14.15(20183)]
Sec. 20183. (1) A physician who informs a patient that he or she refuses to give advice concerning, or participate in, an abortion is not liable to the hospital, clinic, institution, teaching institution, health facility, or patient for the refusal.(2) A civil action for negligence or malpractice or a disciplinary or discriminatory action may not be maintained against a person refusing to give advice as to, or participating in, an abortion based on the refusal. History: 1978, Act 368, Eff. Sept. 30, 1978