The Arkansas Senate on Feb. 10 approved a measure allowing medical providers to refuse to treat someone because of their religious or moral beliefs.
The majority-Republican Senate voted 27-6 in favor of the measure, which says health care workers and institutions have the right to not participate in non-emergency treatments that violate their conscience. The proposal now heads to the House.
Supporters of the bill say it would protect health care workers from being forced to perform something that goes against their conscience. Critics say the bill will allow them to turn LGBTQ patients away.
“This bill is about elective things, things you can take time to find a provider who’s willing to offer the service rather than force a provider who doesn’t believe in doing it,” said Republican Sen. Kim Hammer, who sponsored the measure.
“(The bill) is a blatantly discriminatory attempt to strip LGBTQ people of basic rights,” Eric Reece, the Arkansas state manager for the Human Rights Campaign, said. “Health care should be available to all who need it, not withheld by providers because of hate and fear.”
Third attempt
Similar legislation was filed in Arkansas in 2017 and 2019, but neither bill made it out of committee.
Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who opposed a similar health care objections bill that was rejected by a House committee in 2017, did not say if he would support the latest version.
“I will review this bill as it is considered by the legislature, but I do believe it is addressing an important concern by the public and medical community,” Hutchinson said.
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