Nebraska Health Care Freedom of Conscience Act (LB 564)

LB 564 would have guaranteed individuals and institutions within the state of Nebraska the right to decline participation in health-care functions which violate their respective consciences.

“Conscience” could include religious beliefs, moral convictions, or ethical principles held by any health-care provider or health-care facility.  Under the amendment, health-care providers would have been able to refuse to participate in any type of health-care service that conflicted with their beliefs, including abortion, embryonic stem cell research, providing birth control, and end-of-life care.

The bill would have prohibited all forms of discrimination against health-care providers that decline to provide services. Health-care providers would not have been held liable if they decline to provide services.

STATUS

Referred to the Judiciary Committee. Indefinitely postponed on April 17, 2014.

People