Missouri Conscience Protection Bill of 2013 (SB 84)

SB 84 would have allowed medical professionals and health-care institutions to refuse to participate in medical procedures or research that violates their conscience, including surgical and medication abortions, contraception, assisted reproduction, human cloning, and human embryonic stem-cell research. The bill would also have immunized medical professionals and health-care institutions from civil and criminal liability based on their refusal.

The bill would also have prevented any kind of discrimination or retaliation against health-care professionals who refuse to participate in health-care services that violate their conscience.

The bill defines “conscience”  as religious, moral or ethical principles. A health-care institution’s conscience shall be determined by reference to its existing or proposed religious, moral, or ethical guidelines, mission statement, constitution, by-laws, articles of incorporation, regulations, or other relevant documents. A medical professional’s conscience means a sincere and meaningful belief in God or in relation to a supreme being, or a belief which, though not so derived, occupies in the life of its possessor a place parallel to that filled by God among adherents to religious faiths.

STATUS

Companion bill to HB 457, which was passed by the House then died on the Senate calendar.

Substantially similar to HB 1430 (2014).

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