Montana Abortion Refusal Clause

Montana law says no private hospital or health-care facility may be required contrary to the religious or moral tenets or the stated religious beliefs or moral convictions of its staff or governing board to admit any person for the purpose of abortion or to permit the use of its facilities for such purpose.

Additionally, any individual, partnership, association, or corporation may have the right to refuse to advise concerning, perform, assist, or participate in abortion because of religious beliefs or moral convictions. The law requires the refusal to be in writing signed by the person refusing, but may refer generally to the grounds of “religious beliefs and moral convictions.”

Such a refusal may not be a basis for damages, discrimination, loss of public benefits, or other recriminatory action.

The law, enacted in 1974, does not require refusing entities or individuals to provide notification or referrals to patients seeking abortion services.