SC governor signs bill strengthening conscience protections for medical professionals
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Matt Sharp regarding South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster’s signing Friday of the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act, a bill that protects doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals and organizations from being forced to participate in specific healthcare services that violate their conscience:
“Americans shouldn’t be forced to violate their consciences, and doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are no exception. Patients are best served by medical practitioners who are free to act consistent with their oath to ‘do no harm.’ The MED Act ensures that medical professionals are not compelled to breach this oath by being required to participate in specific procedures or treatments that violate their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. As the Biden administration continues to attack medical conscience rights at the federal level, we commend Gov. McMaster and the South Carolina Legislature for standing with medical professionals and the patients they serve by enacting the MED Act. Thanks to their leadership, South Carolina’s healthcare heroes are free to care for all patients in a compassionate, ethical manner.”
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 Matt Sharp
Matt Sharp serves as senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, where he is the director of the Center for Public Policy. In this role, he leads ADF's team of policy experts as they craft legislation and advise government officials on policies that promote free speech, religious freedom, parental rights, and the sanctity of human life. Since joining ADF in 2010, Sharp has authored federal and state legislation, regularly provides testimony and legal analysis on how proposed legislation will impact constitutional freedoms, and advises governors, legislators, and state and national policy organizations on the importance of laws and policies that protect First Amendment rights. He has twice testified before the U.S. Congress on the importance of protecting free speech and religious liberty in federal law. Sharp also authored an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of nearly 9,000 students, parents, and community members asking the court to uphold students’ right to privacy against government intrusion. Sharp earned his J.D. in 2006 from the Vanderbilt University School of Law. A member of the bar in Georgia and Tennessee, he is also admitted to practice in several federal courts.