(AP) – An Arkansas House panel has rejected a measure that
would have allowed hospitals and health care workers to refuse to treat patients
based on religious or moral objections after it faced criticism that the move
was unnecessary and discriminatory.
The measure failed before the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee
on an 11-8 vote, and the lawmaker behind the measure said he hadn't ruled out
trying again before the panel later.
The bill would have protected health care professionals, facilities and
insurers if they declined to provide non-emergency treatment that would violate
their conscience. Supporters said the measure was needed to protect the
religious freedom of people working in health care.
The proposal was defeated two years after the Arkansas Legislature revised a
religious objections law criticized as anti-gay.
would have allowed hospitals and health care workers to refuse to treat patients
based on religious or moral objections after it faced criticism that the move
was unnecessary and discriminatory.
The measure failed before the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee
on an 11-8 vote, and the lawmaker behind the measure said he hadn't ruled out
trying again before the panel later.
The bill would have protected health care professionals, facilities and
insurers if they declined to provide non-emergency treatment that would violate
their conscience. Supporters said the measure was needed to protect the
religious freedom of people working in health care.
The proposal was defeated two years after the Arkansas Legislature revised a
religious objections law criticized as anti-gay.
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