Massachusetts
2022 Massachusetts General Laws | Part I - Administration of the Government | Title XVI - Public Health | Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations
[Source]
Section 12i - Abortion or Sterilization Procedures; Refusal of Hospital or Health Facility Staff Members or Employees to Participate
Section 12i. A physician or any other person who is a member of or associated
with the medical staff of a hospital or other health facility or any employee of
a hospital or other health facility in which an abortion or any sterilization
procedure is scheduled and who shall state in writing an objection to such
abortion or sterilization procedure on moral or religious grounds, shall not be
required to participate in the medical procedures which result in such abortion
or sterilization, and the refusal of any such person to participate therein
shall not form the basis for any claim of damages on account of such refusal or
for any disciplinary or recriminatory action against such person. The refusal of
any person who has made application to a medical, premedical, nursing, social
work, or psychology program in the commonwealth to agree to counsel, suggest,
recommend, assist, or in any way participate in the performance of an abortion
or sterilization contrary to his religious beliefs or moral convictions shall
not form the basis for any discriminatory action against such person.
Conscientious objection to abortion shall not be grounds for dismissal,
suspension, demotion, failure to promote, discrimination in hiring, withholding
of pay or refusal to grant financial assistance under any state aided project,
or used in any way to the detriment of the individual in any hospital, clinic,
medical, premedical, nursing, social work, or psychology school or state aided
program or institution which is supported in whole or in part by the
commonwealth.