The proposed "Medical Ethics Defense Act" introduces a new chapter to Title 23 of the General Laws, focusing on health and safety. This chapter defines key terms such as "conscience," "healthcare institution," and "medical practitioner," and affirms the rights of these entities to refuse participation in or payment for medical procedures that conflict with their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. The bill outlines conditions for disclosures regarding violations of laws or ethical guidelines and emphasizes that exercising the right of conscience will not lead to discrimination or adverse actions against the practitioners or institutions involved. It also grants immunity from civil, criminal, or administrative liability for those who choose not to participate in procedures that violate their conscience.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions that allow religious entities to make employment decisions based on their beliefs and requires healthcare practitioners to provide written consent before being assigned to perform or facilitate abortions. It maintains that obligations for emergency medical treatment remain unchanged and offers protections for whistleblowers reporting violations. The legislation introduces civil remedies for violations of these rights, ensuring that individuals cannot face civil action for refusing specific medical services based on their conscience. The act is designed to take effect upon passage, reinforcing the importance of conscience rights while clarifying that these rights do not exempt healthcare providers from their responsibilities to offer other medical services.