Senate Bill 641: Medical Ethics Defense (MED) Act

• Protects the right of 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 or principles.

• Prohibits discrimination against those exercising conscience rights, including termination, demotion, denial of licensure, and impediments to creating or expanding health care institutions.

• Provides civil remedies including statutory damages equal to three times actual damages, court costs, and attorneys' fees for violations, with injunctive relief available to reinstate practitioners or re-license institutions.

• Requires written affirmative consent from health care practitioners prior to assignment to perform, facilitate, refer for, or participate in abortions.

• Becomes effective October 1, 2023, and does not override emergency medical treatment requirements under federal law.