§ 22-21B-2 — Legislative Findings

The Legislature finds and declares:
(1) It is the public policy of the State of Alabama to respect and protect the fundamental right of conscience of individuals who provide health care services.
(2) Without comprehensive protection, health care rights of conscience may be violated in various ways, such as harassment, demotion, salary reduction, termination, loss of privileges, denial of aid or benefits, and refusal to license, or refusal to certify.
(3) It is the purpose of this chapter to protect religious or ethical rights of all health care providers to decline to provide, perform, assist, or participate in providing or performing certain health care services that violate their consciences, where they have made their objections known in writing in advance.
(4) It is the purpose of this chapter to prohibit discrimination, disqualification, or coercion upon such health care providers who decline to perform any health care service that violates their conscience and who object in writing as soon as practicable prior to being asked to perform such health care services.

Legislative History

(Act 2017-189, §2.)