The companion bills HB 1403 / SB 1580 Protections of Medical Conscience are slated to be heard in both chambers this week, and we need you to voice your OPPOSITION ASAP. These bills are nothing but a license to discrimin
The bills HB 1403 / SB 1580 Protections of Medical Conscience would :
Expand the ability of doctors and other healthcare professionals to refuse any specific non-emergency services if such services conflict with their “conscience.” (Note that the "conscience" provision -and contraceptives).
Apply to health insurers that pay for services;
Make healthcare providers and insurers immune from civil or criminal liability for “conscience” decisions.
This bill is dangerous because its language is vague and ambiguous:
There are no specific delineated objectionable treatments or services; therefore, it is difficult to define where provider conscience and patient negligence differ.
There is no requirement to refer patients to healthcare providers who do not have the same moral objections. Can you imagine securing an appointment to see a healthcare provider and having to pay for that appointment, only to find out during the appointment that your provider can’t comply with your healthcare needs due to his/her “conscience?” And then you have to leave that appointment without any guidance regarding who can help you?? When does such a “conscience” claim interfere with a patient’s access to treatment, and violate professional ethical standards
SB 254 is another “Slate of Hate Bill” that the Legislature has targeted against the trans community. Even if trans adults who need prescriptions to continue their gender-affirming healthcare comply with the difficult barriers in the new dehumanizing bill (SB 254) that the Florida Legislature intends to pass, they may hit another care barrier of individual provider “conscience” with this bill.
There are a whole host of potential scenarios for "conscience" objectors:
Healthcare providers that believe “gay lifestyle” is immoral, will refuse treating LGBTQ patient with HIV/AIDS medications Or any illnesses.
Healthcare providers that morally disagree with a patient or a patient’s family decision to forego extreme end-of-life services like feeding tubes.
Healthcare providers that believe that providing care to a hospitalized criminal is against their “conscience.”
The list of scenarios could go on and on, and that is the problem. There are no guardrails for patient protections. It is simply another bill intended to promote hate and division from this Legislature and eliminate freedoms for Floridians.
Please contact the House and Senate legislators below TODAY and tell them to VOTE NO on Protections of Medical
Conscience.
Charles Wesley "Chuck" Clemons, Sr. (R) -(850) 717-5022
David Borrero (R), Vice Chair - (850) 717-5111
Shane G. Abbott (R) -(850) 717-5005
Adam Anderson (R)- (850) 717-5057
Jessica Baker (R) - (850) 717-5017
Robin Bartleman (D)- (850) 717-5103
Melony Bell (R ) - (850) 717-5049
Dean Adam Black (R) -(850) 717-5015
Linda Chaney (R), Vice Chair- (850) 717-5061
Gallop Franklin III (D) - (850) 717-5008
Christine Hunschofsky (D) - (850) 717-5095
Jenna Persons-Mulicka (R) - (850) 717-5078
Joel Rudman, Dr., (R) - (850) 717-5003
Michelle Salzman (R) - (850) 717-5001
Kelly Skidmore (D) - (850) 717-5092
John Snyder (R) - (850) 717-5086
Allison Tant (D) - (850) 717-5009
Dana Trabulsy (R) - (850) 717-5084
Senator Colleen Burton (R) - (850) 487-5012
Senator Jason Brodeur (R) - (850) 487-5010
Senator Ben Albritton (R) - (850) 487-5027
Senator Bryan Avila (R) - (850) 487-5039
Senator Lauren Book (D) - (850) 487-5035
Senator Doug Broxson (R) - (850) 487-5001
Senator Danny Burgess (R)- (850) 487-5023
Senator Alexis Calatayud (R) - (850) 487-5038
Senator Tracie Davis (D) - (850) 487-5005
Senator Ileana Garcia (R) - (850) 487-5036
Senator Gayle Harrell (R) - (850) 487-5031
Senator Rosalind Osgood (D) - (850) 487-5032
Chuck.Clemons@myfloridahouse.gov; David.Borrero@myfloridahouse.gov; Shane.Abbott@myfloridahouse.gov;Adam.Anderson@myfloridahouse.gov; Jessica.Baker@myfloridahouse.gov; Robin.Bartleman@myfloridahouse.gov;Melony.Bell@myfloridahouse.gov; Dean.Black@myfloridahouse.gov; Linda.Chaney@myfloridahouse.gov; Gallop.Franklin@myfloridahouse.gov;Christine.Hunschofsky@myfloridahouse.gov; Jenna.Persons@myfloridahouse.gov; Joel.Rudman@myfloridahouse.gov;Michelle.Salzman@myfloridahouse.gov; Kelly.Skidmore@myfloridahouse.gov; John.Snyder@myfloridahouse.gov; Allison.Tant@myfloridahouse.gov;Dana.Trabulsy@myfloridahouse.gov; Burton.Colleen.web@flsenate.gov; Brodeur.Jason.web@flsenate.gov; Albritton.Ben.web@flsenate.gov;Avila.Bryan.web@flsenate.gov; Book.Lauren.web@flsenate.gov; Broxson.Doug.web@flsenate.gov; Burgess.Danny.web@flsenate.gov;Calatayud.Alexis.web@flsenate.gov; Davis.Tracie.web@flsenate.gov; Garcia.Ileana.web@flsenate.gov; Harrell.Gayle.web@flsenate.gov;Osgood.Rosalind.web@flsenate.gov
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