Virginia
House Bill 563 (2002)
Introduction
This was an amendment to an existing
Virginia protection of conscience statute. The
amendments (in italics) provide protection with
respect to abortifacient drugs. The bill was
passed in the House and defeated in the Senate.
It was superseded in 2003 by
HB 1741.
[Administrator]
Offered January 9, 2002
Prefiled January 8, 2002
A BILL to amend and reenact
§§ 18.2-75 of the Code of Virginia, relating to
the conscience clause.
Patrons-- Byron, Athey, Black, Cox, Devolites,
Drake, Griffith, Janis, Jones, S.C., Kilgore,
Landes, Lingamfelter, Marshall, R.G., McDonnell,
Nixon, O'Brien, Rapp, Sears, Ware and Welch
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Virginia:
1. That §§ 18.2-75 of the Code of Virginia is
amended and reenacted as follows:
§§ 18.2-75. Conscience clause.
Nothing in §§§§ 18.2-72, 18.2-73 or §§ 18.2-74
shall require (i) a hospital or other medical
facility or physician to admit any patient under the
provisions hereof or (ii) any physician,
pharmacist or nurse to dispense any birth-control
pill or other medicine for the purpose of
performing an abortion. In addition, any person who
shall state in writing an objection to any abortion
or all abortions on personal, ethical, moral or
religious grounds shall not be required to
participate in procedures which will result in such
abortion, and the refusal of such person, hospital
or other medical facility to participate therein
shall not form the basis of any claim for damages on
account of such refusal or for any disciplinary or
recriminatory action against such person, nor shall
any such person be denied employment because of such
objection or refusal. The written objection shall
remain in effect until such person shall revoke it
in writing or terminate his association with the
facility with which it is filed.