Governor Lee signs Medical Ethics Defense Act

Governor Bill Lee signed into law the Medical Ethics Defense Act, which lets healthcare practitioners refuse to perform or pay for a procedure or prescription that goes against their personal morals, ethics, or religious beliefs. The legislation, applies to medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and insurance companies. It went into effect immediately with Gov. Lee’s signature. The House sponsor of the bill, said the measure protects healthcare providers from “moral injury,” which he said is contributing to the physician shortage in Tennessee. According to Alliance Defending Freedom, an out-of-state interest group that backed the bill, eight other states have similar conscience clause laws, which are rarely used and have never been challenged in court.