Florida Bill Would Allow Doctors To Refuse To Treat LGBTQ Patients

Legislation making its way through Florida’s state House and Senate would allow doctors and insurance companies to drop patients (i.e. refuse to treat patients) based on “conscience-based objection.” Some Florida residents are concerned that House Bill 1403 would give physicians the ability to legally discriminate against minorities, women, and LGBTQ people based on a “sincerely held religious, moral, or ethical belief.” From the legislation:

Authorizing health care providers and health care payors to opt out of participation in or payment for certain health care services by conscience-based objections without discrimination or threat of adverse actions.

“Conscience-based objection” means an objection based on a sincerely held religious, moral, or ethical belief.

https://twitter.com/lesleyabravanel/status/1646296025055784962 From the NBC News affiliate in Tampa:

One patient even told NBC 2 that the bill is frustrating and worrisome. Connie Valier told the NBC Affiliate that she’s concerned doctors and insurers will refuse treatment and payment simply because they feel like a patient doesn’t share the same “religious, moral or ethical beliefs.”

According to the bill, doctors and insurance companies will also be provided with legal protection following their decisions to deny a patient.

The bill also states that physicians are not required to refer patients to another doctor, which is a concern among women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and minorities.

Monday morning, House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell described the proposal the “license to discriminate in health care bill.“ “This would allow a health care provider or insurer to deny medical care to a patient based on religious, moral or ethical opinions,” Driskell told Florida Politics.  “You can imagine how this could be weaponized against the LGBTQ+ community, but could also be abused against abortion, contraception, end of life or any medical procedure.” https://twitter.com/JohnstonSharon/status/1645690388433494016 Members of the state House Health and Human Services Committee voted 11-5 Monday afternoon to approve the bill. The bill was filed by Pensacola state Rep. Joel Rudman and will now head to the full House for consideration. The Senate companion bill (SB 1580) is awaiting a hearing in the Rules Committee. https://twitter.com/WFLA/status/1646259633370087426