§ 16-30-12 — Conscience objections

(a) Health care facilities. -– Nothing in this article shall be construed to require a health care facility to change published policy of the health care facility that is expressly based on sincerely held religious beliefs or sincerely held moral convictions central to the facility's operating principles.

(b) Health care providers. -– Nothing in this article shall be construed to require an individual health care provider to honor a health care decision made pursuant to this article if:

(1) The decision is contrary to the individual provider's sincerely held religious beliefs or sincerely held moral convictions; and

(2) The individual health care provider promptly informs the person who made the decision and the health care facility of his or her refusal to honor the decision. In such event, the medical power of attorney representative or surrogate decision maker shall have responsibility for arranging the transfer of the person to another health care provider. The individual health care provider shall cooperate in facilitating such transfer, and a transfer under these circumstances shall not constitute abandonment.

Legislative History

2000 Reg. Sess., HB4144; 1991 Reg. Sess., SB416