More than 1 in 8 LGBTQ people live in states where doctors can refuse to treat them
South Carolina became the seventh state last month to permit health care providers to decline to serve people if they feel doing so would violate their
South Carolina became the seventh state last month to permit health care providers to decline to serve people if they feel doing so would violate their religious beliefs.
As a result, more than 1 in 8 LGBTQ people now live in states where doctors, nurses and other health care professionals can legally refuse to treat them, according to the Movement Advancement Project, an LGBTQ think tank. In addition to South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Ohio and Illinois have similar measures in effect.
“The conflict between patient needs and religious directives has been a serious problem in the past, and I don’t see any sign of that issue being resolved quickly and easily.”
Jenny Pizer, lambda legal
Advocates and legal experts say the laws will further raise the barriers to health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer patients.
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