OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, on Thursday passed a bill in the House that would ensure nurses, doctors, and other health care professionals and organizations in the state are not forced to participate in specific procedures or pay for services that violate their deeply held beliefs.

House Bill 3214 would protect Oklahoma’s health care providers from civil or criminal liability or discriminatory actions. The measure does not, however, override the requirement to provide emergency medical treatment to all patients, and health care professionals would still be expected to provide a patient with any other services that do not conflict with the professional’s conscience.

"There are instances when doctors or other medical professionals are pressured to perform procedures or provide services that violate their personal conscience and that may even be harmful to the patient," West said. "This measure would protect them from facing retaliatory actions because of their sincerely held beliefs."

West said similar legislation is already in place in seven states and has been in place since 1977 in Illinois and 2004 in Mississippi. He said it builds upon laws already in place that protect against religious discrimination in the workplace.

HB3214 also provides protections for the First Amendment rights of health care professionals, ensuring that they can’t lose their license when they speak out on matters of public importance. It further protects health care professionals who report unlawful or unethical conduct to the appropriate authorities.