Tennessee Legalizes Refusing To Treat LGBTQ Patients

NewsNation reports:

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed into law the Medical Ethics Defense Act, which lets health care practitioners refuse to perform or pay for a procedure or prescription that goes against their personal morals, ethics, or religious beliefs. The legislation, which applies to medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and insurance companies, immediately went into effect with Gov. Lee’s signature.

The House sponsor, Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, a physician himself, told lawmakers the measure protects health care providers from “moral injury,” which he said is contributing to the physician shortage in Tennessee. “Patients and providers have rights. Providers should not give up their rights to best serve their patients’ [rights],” Rep. Terry said. “Patients need to know that our doctors are advocating for them with a clear conscience.”

Read the full article. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a similar bill into law in April 2023.