Texas Abortion Refusal Clause

Texas law states that any physician, nurse, staff member, or employee of a hospital or other health-care facility that objects to abortion may not be required to directly or indirectly perform or participate in the procedure.

A hospital or health-care facility may not discriminate against anyone that refuses to participate in such a procedure. Additionally, an educational institution may not discriminate against an applicant for admission or employment as a student, intern, or resident because of the applicant’s attitude concerning abortion.

A private hospital or private health-care facility is not required to make its facilities available for the performance of an abortion unless a physician determines that the life of the mother is immediately endangered.

The law, enacted in 1999, does not require refusing entities or individuals to provide notification or referrals to patients seeking abortion services.