The Senate Health Services Committee Wednesday approved a bill designed to protect the conscience rights of Kentucky’s healthcare workers.
The sponsor of Senate Bill 72, Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Winchester, told the committee that his bill is designed to recruit and retain healthcare professionals.
“It’s an economic development tool, and it is a tool that says to a healthcare provider who wants to come into our commonwealth that we welcome you for your dedication and your hard work for serving the public,” said Douglas, who is also a physician.
“Even though we’re going to continue to expect the highest level of professionalism from you, we will honor your individuality as a person and your values, just like we do everybody else in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
Opponents of the bill, including the ACLU of Kentucky, Planned Parenthood and the Fairness Campaign, testified that it would allow discrimination against some patients.
Rev. James Todd Smith read a statement from the Kentucky Council of Churches.
“We specifically condemn any legal effort to deprive individuals, particularly, but not limited to LGBTQIA+ persons, of the medical care that they and their chosen qualified physicians deem necessary.”
“Freedom of religion is important, but religious freedom does not include the right to harm and discriminate against others,” said Tamarra Weider of Planned Parenthood. “Moral objections of healthcare providers cannot be prioritized over patients receiving the care they need.”
Douglas accused opponents of using scared tactics, pointing out that the bill specifically excludes emergency room treatment and evidence collection for sexual assault crimes.
“This bill protects those who wish to follow their strongly held conscience beliefs, as long as it does not put others in danger or even interfere with the rights of others,” he said.
The committee passed the bill 8-2 along party lines with both Democrats on the committee voting “no.”
“Our job is not to judge. Our job is to heal,” said Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, who is also a physician. “Our job is to treat and not make moral judgments on who we are treating or why they are in that situation.”
In supporting the bill, Sen. Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington, argued it would help attract healthcare workers to the state.
“This is a recruitment tool. I find it interesting to note that Ohio, Tennessee and Illinois both provide for this protection for medical professionals,” he said. “I think this provides for safety to keep our medical professionals in Kentucky and allow them to continue to practice.”
SB 72 now goes to the full Senate for debate.
(Photo: Sen. Donald Douglas, courtesy of KET via Kentucky Today)
By Lawrence Smith, Kentucky Today Editor
