The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Greg Chafuen regarding Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s signing Thursday of the Medical Ethics Defense Act, SB 955, which protects doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals and organizations from being forced to participate in specific procedures that violate their conscience:
“Patients are best served by health care professionals who are free to act consistent with their oath to ‘do no harm.’ Unfortunately, doctors and nurses have been targeted for caring for their patients by refraining from harmful and dangerous procedures. This ends up discouraging countless young professionals from entering the health care field because of fear that they will be forced to violate their conscience. Tennessee’s MED Act ensures that health care professionals are not forced to participate in procedures that violate their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. ADF commends Sen. Pro Tempore Ferrell Haile, Rep. Bryan Terry, and the Tennessee Legislature for their fortitude, and we thank Gov. Lee for standing with health care professionals and the patients they serve by enacting the MED Act. We also thank Tennessee Right to Life for its monumental work on this effort. Now, Tennessee health care heroes are free to care for all patients in a compassionate, ethical manner.”
