WHAT A CAN OF WORMS !
When did CORPORATIONS have “personal beliefs” ? The LGBTQ+ community not withstanding, So the SC state legislature exempts all parts of the SC medical system is going to be exempted from civil rights discrimination of disabled under the Americans with disability act and civil rights act ? This appears to be in the same category as a few states passing laws that is supposedly going to protect prescribers from the DEA coming into the state and enforcing the Controlled Substance Act from prosecuting a prescriber that they believe has violated the law.
Can you imagine that a insurance/pbm company refusing to pay for opiate pain management because they fear that a pt could become addicted and they neither wish to cause a person to become a addict, nor be responsible for the cost of treating a pt for addiction. Basically, their beliefs that prescribing opiates could affect their BOTTOM LINE. Since a insurance/pbm company does not have a DEA license – unless they have a mail order pharmacy… they have neither the legal authority to prescribe nor dispense controlled substances, so any denial of paying for opiate/controlled meds would have to be for a concern of their bottom line.
Of course, this article indicates that this bill has just passed the SC House and has yet to be taken up by the SC Senate and even if passed by both Houses, it could be vetoed by SC governor, but both SC Houses have at or near a super majority of <R> so it could be possible for the SC legislature to over ride the Governor’s veto.
South Carolina House passes bill for doctors to deny care that violates ‘conscience’
The bill would excuse medical practitioners, health care institutions and health care payers from providing care that is inconsistent with their personal beliefs.
Story at a glance
- Legislators in South Carolina on Friday passed a bill which would allow healthcare providers to deny care based on their personal beliefs. It would also apply to insurance companies, which may be entitled to refuse to pay for care.
- The bill would also protect those who decline to provide medical services from civil, criminal or administrative liability.
- Some say the bill, known as the “Medical Ethics and Diversity Act,” would disproportionately affect the LGBTQ+ community, as well as women and people of color.
South Carolina lawmakers on Friday passed a bill allowing medical professionals and insurance companies to deny care based on personal belief. Some say the legislation, which now heads to the state Senate for consideration, would disproportionately impact LGBTQ+ people, women, and people of color.
Under the bill, titled the “Medical Ethics and Diversity Act,” South Carolina law would be altered to excuse medical practitioners, health care institutions and health care payers from providing care that violates their “conscience.” It would also shield those who decline to provide medical services to patients from civil, criminal or administrative liability.
Dozens of state residents in February testified against the bill, calling it vague and overbroad. They also shared concerns that the legislation would disproportionately impact marginalized communities.
In a statement on Friday, Human Rights Campaign Legal Director Sarah Warbelow said she finds it “disturbing” that politicians in South Carolina are prioritizing individual providers’ beliefs over the wellbeing of patients.
“This legislation is dangerously silent in regards to the needs of patients and fails to consider the impact that expanding refusals can have on their health,” she said. “Religious freedom is a fundamental American value that is entirely compatible with providing quality, non-discriminatory healthcare. It is not a license to deprive others of their rights simply because of personal beliefs.”
Warbelow said the bill sends a message to patients with non-medical views inconsistent with that of their doctors that they are “not equal members of society entitled to dignity and respect.”
“Let’s call this what it is – a vicious, discriminatory attack on vulnerable patients, including those who care for LGBTQ+ people,” Warbelow said.
According to the HRC, the bill could enable administrative staff to decline to submit insurance claims or health care providers to override patients’ end of life directives. Receptionists may also be entitled to turn away patients and medical researchers could refuse to publish the results of a state-funded study because the scientific evidence is inconsistent with their personal beliefs.
The South Carolina bill is just one of more than 320 pieces of legislation under consideration in state legislatures which discriminate against LGBTQ+ people, according to the HRC, which tracks such legislation.
Filed under: General Problems
It is also very scary,,wth is 320 ”other” pieces of legislations??maryw
When i saw this,,,that is the 1st thing i thought of,,allllllllllll the times we are told,,”I don’t feel comfortable filling this medicine blah blah blah,,,this is aweful,,they will deny everything based upon their SELF RIGHTEOUS BELIEFS,,ISN’T THAT CALL PREJUDICE? who the HELLL came up w/such a prejudicial bill??maryw
psss,,,A good friend pointed out,,this ain’t just Doc’s,,this is also insurers,researchers,like the N.I.H. USING BEAGLES,, its some dude sitting behind a desk,,,knowing nothing medical can say,,,nope,,,its against my conscious to allow u to live w/Aids,,sooo die m-f,,,or some religious fanatic can say,,my religioun belives u show suffer tilll death,,and say nope,,,no medicine to ease you physically painful agony
till death..THIS MAKED TORTURE 100 %%%% LEGAL IN AMERICA,,,,THIS IS TRULY A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY,,TO MAKE INHUMAMITY LEGAL IN THE EYES OF THE LAW IN AMERICA,,,jmo,maryw
If people would just learn the REAL cause of addiction that I’ve been trying to get across for 5+ years, we wouldn’t be in this fix. But by not learning it, opioids will soon be a treatment of the past.
This country is out of control and this Bill sounds unconstitutional