Bill > SB665

This bill creates the Medical Ethics Defense Act, which establishes comprehensive protections for medical practitioners, healthcare institutions, and healthcare payers who wish to decline participation in medical procedures or services based on their conscience (defined as ethical, moral, or religious beliefs). The bill provides broad protections against discrimination, including protection from employment termination, demotion, loss of privileges, or other punitive actions for refusing to participate in medical procedures that conflict with their conscience. It requires explicit written consent from healthcare practitioners before they can be scheduled for procedures like abortions and prohibits licensing boards from retaliating against practitioners for protected speech or expressive activities. The law allows medical practitioners, healthcare institutions, or healthcare payers to file civil lawsuits for violations, with potential recovery of threefold damages, legal costs, and attorney fees. Importantly, the bill includes an exception for religious medical entities to make employment and staffing decisions consistent with their religious beliefs, and it explicitly maintains requirements for emergency medical treatments. The bill does not absolve healthcare providers of their duty to provide other medical services that do not conflict with their conscience, and it includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the law is found invalid, the rest of the law remains in effect. The legislation will become effective on November 1, 2025.

Health and Social Services

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb665&Session=2600