Neb. Bill Would Expand 'Conscience' Protections For Health Workers, Patients

On Friday, Nebraska Sen. Pete Pirsch (R) introduced a bill (LB461) that would expand protections for health workers and patients who have moral or religious objections to abortion, certain end-of-life care decisions and procedures that involve the destruction of embryos, the Lincoln Journal Star reports.

According to the Journal Star, the Freedom of Conscience Act (LB461) would require hospitals and clinics to accommodate an employee's beliefs and related practices regarding abortion care unless a patient would face death without the employee's assistance. The protections also would apply to experiments or procedures that destroy human embryos, cells or tissue.

In addition, the bill would prohibit providers and health plans from restricting patient's end-of-life care decisions.

Under the bill, plaintiffs and defendants involved in civil lawsuits regarding religious or moral discrimination would be entitled to compensation for attorney's fees. The bill would affect employers' actions regarding "admission, hiring, firing, tenure, privileges or status," the Journal Star reports (Young/O'Hanlon, Lincoln Journal Star, 1/14).


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