Idaho committee backs bill expanding conscience protections for health workers; opponents warn of patient access risks

The Idaho House Welfare Committee voted 13-2 to send House Bill 59, the Medical Ethics Defense Act, to the full House with a due-pass recommendation after more than an hour of testimony from health-care workers, lawyers and patient advocates.

The bill would expand conscience protections for health-care professionals, entities and insurers beyond the state's existing, more narrowly drawn statutes, supporters said. Representative Bruce Scogg (R., Dist. 10) said the bill "protects the conscience rights of healthcare professionals and entities" and provides enforcement tools including a private right of action, injunctive relief, damages and reasonable attorney fees.

Supporters told the committee that HB 59 would prevent health professionals from being forced to participate in nonemergency procedures that violate their "sincerely held" religious or moral beliefs. Catherine Hartley, an attorney with the Pacific Justice Institute, said the measure "provides a much-needed expansion of conscience rights not…