Minnesota

2023 Minnesota Statutes | Chapters 144 - 159 — Health | Chapter 145 — Public Health Provisions

145.42 Abortions; nonliability for refusal to perform

Subdivision 1. Damages. No physician, nurse, or other person who refuses to perform or assist in the performance of an abortion, and no hospital that refuses to permit the performance of an abortion upon its premises, shall be liable to any person for damages allegedly arising from the refusal.

Subd. 2. Related actions. No physician, nurse, or other person who refuses to perform or assist in the performance of an abortion shall, because of that refusal, be dismissed, suspended, demoted, or otherwise prejudiced or damaged by a hospital with which the person is affiliated or by which the person is employed.

145.414 Abortion not mandatory

(a) No person and no hospital or institution shall be coerced, held liable or discriminated against in any manner because of a refusal to perform, accommodate, assist or submit to an abortion for any reason.

(b) It is the policy of the state of Minnesota that no health plan company as defined under section 62Q.01, subdivision 4, or health care cooperative as defined under section 62R.04, subdivision 2, shall be required to provide or provide coverage for an abortion. No provision of this chapter; of chapter 62A, 62C, 62D, 62H, 62L, 62M, 62N, 62R, 62V, 64B, or of any other chapter; of Minnesota Rules; or of Laws 1995, chapter 234, shall be construed as requiring a health plan company as defined under section 62Q.01, subdivision 4, or a health care cooperative as defined under section 62R.04, subdivision 2, to provide or provide coverage for an abortion.

(c) This section supersedes any provision of Laws 1995, chapter 234, or any act enacted prior to enactment of Laws 1995, chapter 234, that in any way limits or is inconsistent with this section. No provision of any act enacted subsequent to Laws 1995, chapter 234 shall be construed as in any way limiting or being inconsistent with this section, unless the act amends this section or expressly provides that it is intended to limit or be inconsistent with this section.

Note: Definitions [See MN Stat § 145.411 (2023)]

Subd. 3. Hospital. "Hospital" means an institution licensed by the state commissioner of health; adequately and properly staffed and equipped; providing services, facilities and beds for the reception and care of one or more nonrelated persons for a continuous period longer than 24 hours for diagnosis, treatment or care of illness, injury or pregnancy; and regularly providing clinical laboratory services, diagnostic x-ray services and treatment facilities for surgery, obstetrical care or other definitive medical treatment of similar extent. "Hospital" shall not include diagnostic or treatment centers, physicians' offices or clinics, or other facilities for the foster care of children licensed by the commissioner of human services.

Subd. 5. Abortion. "Abortion" includes an act, procedure or use of any instrument, medicine or drug which is supplied or prescribed for or administered to an individual with the intention of terminating, and which results in the termination of, pregnancy.