§ 63-1-175 — Coercion to vaccinate by medical professionals prohibited - Penalties

(a) As used in this section: (1) "Coerce" means to compel a person to act by force, intimidation, or threat; (2) "Healthcare provider" means a healthcare professional, healthcare establishment, or healthcare facility licensed, registered, certified, or permitted pursuant to this title or title 68 or regulated under the authority of either the department of health or an agency, board, council, or committee attached to the department of health, and that is authorized to administer vaccinations in this state; (3) "Vaccination" means the act of introducing a vaccine into the body; and (4) "Vaccine" means a substance intended for use in humans to stimulate the body's immune response against an infectious disease or pathogen. (b) A healthcare provider shall not: (1) Coerce a person, including a person who has legal authority to make healthcare decisions for a child, to consent to a vaccination; (2) Mislead or misrepresent that a vaccination is required by state law, when state law provides an exemption; or (3) Mislead or misrepresent that a newborn screening test is required by state law, when state law does not require such screening without providing an exemption to such requirement. (c) (1) A violation of this section is an unlawful practice and is grounds for the offending healthcare provider's licensing authority to suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew the healthcare provider's license or take other disciplinary action allowed by law. (2) If the licensing authority of a healthcare provider receives information of a violation or potential violation of this section by the healthcare provider, then the licensing authority shall conduct an immediate investigation and take appropriate disciplinary action.

Legislative History

Added by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1043,s 1, eff. 7/1/2024.