NC H819

Establishes the Medical Ethics Defense Act to protect the right of conscience for medical practitioners, health care institutions, and health care payers to refuse participation in or payment for health care services that violate their religious, moral, ethical, or philosophical beliefs.

Prohibits discrimination against medical practitioners, health care institutions, or health care payers for exercising conscience rights, with discrimination defined to include termination, demotion, reassignment, loss of privileges, licensure denial, and various other adverse actions.

Provides civil remedies including statutory damages equal to three times actual damages, costs of action, reasonable attorney's fees, and injunctive relief such as reinstatement to previous position or re-licensing.

Requires affirmative written consent from health care practitioners before assignment to perform, facilitate, refer for, or participate in abortions, and exempts emergency medical treatment requirements under federal law.

Protects medical practitioners from retaliation for reporting violations of the Act and limits occupational licensing board disciplinary action for protected speech unless demonstrated to be direct cause of physical harm within a three-year practitioner-patient relationship; becomes effective October 1, 2023.