FL governor signs bill strengthening conscience protections for medical professionals
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Stephanie Nichols regarding Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signing Thursday of SB 1580, a bill that protects doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals and organizations from being forced to participate in health care services that violate their conscience:
“Americans shouldn’t be forced to violate their ethical and religious beliefs, and this certainly includes doctors, nurses, and other medical providers. Thankfully, SB 1580 is a strong step in outlining comprehensive protections in Florida law for medical conscience and freedom of speech for medical providers. The legislation ensures that medical professionals aren’t compelled to breach their oath to ‘do no harm’ by being required to participate in procedures or treatments that violate their conscience. Forcing doctors, nurses, and other medical providers to choose between their faith or their profession will drive many from the workforce and lead to fewer health care options for patients at a time when our nation’s health care system is overstretched and experiencing a dire shortage of providers. We’re grateful to Gov. DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for protecting free speech rights for medical professionals and the right for them to live in accordance with their ethical and religious beliefs as they offer their much-needed services.”
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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ABOUT Stephanie Nichols
Stephanie Nichols serves as legal counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom Center for Legislative Advocacy. She is an advocate for religious freedom, freedom of conscience and a free marketplace of ideas. She is passionate about protecting the ability of citizens to fulfill their callings by protecting conscience rights for all people. Her special focus at ADF is legislation to protect medical conscience rights. Prior to joining ADF, Nichols was in private practice in the areas of business law, estate planning, illegal taxation and real estate. She also assisted with freedom of conscience, religious liberty, freedom of speech and pro-life efforts in Arkansas. Nichols began her career in commercial litigation and then worked in higher education administration for Arkansas State University-Beebe, where she worked in federal and state legislative relations, risk management, public relations and policy issues. Nichols holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law, where she served on the editorial board of the Arkansas Law Review and graduated summa cum laude. She also holds a Master of Arts in journalism degree from the University of Arkansas.