Utah 2025 Regular Session

Utah Senate Bill SB0320 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	02-21 15:02 S.B. 320
2	2	1
3	3	Physician Practice Amendments
4	4	2025 GENERAL SESSION
5	5	STATE OF UTAH
6	6	Chief Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers
7	7	House Sponsor:
8	8	2
9	9
10	10	3
11	11	LONG TITLE
12	12	4
13	13	General Description:
14	14	5
15	15	This bill addresses physician rights.
16	16	6
17	17	Highlighted Provisions:
18	18	7
19	19	This bill:
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21	21	▸ defines a term;
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23	23	▸ recognizes a physician's right to refuse to provide a medical service on certain grounds;
24	24	10
25	25	▸ prohibits taking adverse action against a physician who refuses to provide a medical
26	26	11
27	27	service on certain grounds; and
28	28	12
29	29	▸ recognizes an adverse action as a basis for a cause of action.
30	30	13
31	31	Money Appropriated in this Bill:
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33	33	None
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35	35	Other Special Clauses:
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37	37	None
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39	39	Utah Code Sections Affected:
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41	41	ENACTS:
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43	43	26-4-327, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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45	45
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47	47	Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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49	49	Section 1. Section 26-4-327 is enacted to read:
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51	51	26-4-327 . Conscientious objection to provide health care.
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53	53	(1) As used in this section, "conscientious objection" means a physician's right to refuse to
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55	55	provide a medical service on the basis that the medical service conflicts with the
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57	57	physician's:
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59	59	(a) medical beliefs;
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61	61	(b) moral beliefs;
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63	63	(c) religious beliefs; or
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65	65	(d) ethical beliefs.
66	66	S.B. 320 S.B. 320 02-21 15:02
67	67	31
68	68	(2)(a) A physician may exercise a conscientious objection if providing the medical
69	69	32
70	70	service would conflict with the physician's medical, moral, religious, or ethical
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72	72	beliefs.
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74	74	(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(a), a physician may not exercise a conscientious
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76	76	objection if exercising the objection would deny the patient access to a medical
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78	78	service to treat an immediate threat to the patient's health or life.
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80	80	(3) No person, whether private or public, including the physician's employer or the Division
81	81	38
82	82	of Professional Licensing, may take adverse action against a physician for exercising a
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84	84	conscientious objection in accordance with this section, including:
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86	86	(a) demotion;
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88	88	(b) denial of a benefit, privilege, promotion, raise, an increased status, or tenure;
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90	90	(c) discipline;
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92	92	(d) discrimination;
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94	94	(e) dismissal;
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96	96	(f) harassment;
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98	98	(g) penalty;
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100	100	(h) prosecution;
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102	102	(i) refusal to provide a benefit, privilege, promotion, raise, an increased status, or tenure
103	103	49
104	104	that the physician would have otherwise received;
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106	106	(j) retaliation;
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108	108	(k) suspension;
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110	110	(l) termination of employment; or
111	111	53
112	112	(m) termination of, adverse alteration of, or refusal to renew an association or agreement.
113	113	54
114	114	(4)(a) A physician who is adversely affected by conduct prohibited under Subsection (3)
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116	116	may bring a civil action in court against a person responsible for the prohibited
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118	118	conduct.
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120	120	(b) A physician described in Subsection (4)(a) is entitled to:
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122	122	(i) complete relief, for each adverse action under Subsection (3), to the extent the
123	123	59
124	124	relief is feasible and practicable, as determined by a court; and
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126	126	(ii) reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred in an action described in Subsection
127	127	61
128	128	(4)(a).
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130	130	Section 2. Effective Date.
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132	132	This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
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