NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A controversial bill in Tennessee could give doctors the power to refuse services based on their personal beliefs, raising questions about the intersection of personal conscience and healthcare.
The Medical Ethics Defense Act passed its final vote in the Tennessee House Monday, advancing a measure that could have significant implications for patients seeking care in the state.
If the bill becomes law, Tennessee physicians could refuse to provide treatment or services that conflict with their personal beliefs of conscience. However, the bill specifies that it doesn’t affect federal law, including the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or a religious healthcare provider’s right to make decisions in line with its religious beliefs…