The Medical Ethics Defense Act aims to provide protections for medical practitioners, health care institutions, and health care payors regarding their exercise of conscience, whistleblower activities, and free speech. The bill defines key terms such as "conscience," "discrimination," "health care institution," and "medical practitioner." It establishes that these entities have the right to refuse participation in health care services that conflict with their conscience without facing discrimination. Additionally, it clarifies that health care payors cannot decline payment for services based on such refusals, and it does not relieve them of the obligation to provide emergency medical services as mandated by federal law.

Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for whistleblower protections, ensuring that practitioners and institutions cannot be discriminated against for reporting suspected violations of the law or for disclosing information related to ethical concerns. It also protects the free speech rights of medical practitioners by prohibiting licensing boards from sanctioning them for engaging in protected speech unless it can be proven that such speech directly caused physical harm. The bill allows for civil actions against unlawful interference with these rights and includes a severability clause to maintain the validity of the remaining provisions if any part is found invalid.