06 AM 33
0471
ADOPTED
SENATE
Senators
Whitehead, Sr. of the 24th, Hill of the 32nd, Schaefer of the 50th,Grant of the
25th, Goggans of the 7th and others offered the following
amendment:
Amend
the Senate Health and Human Services Committee substitute to HB 1178 (LC 33
1545S) by inserting after
"fees;"
on line 8 of page 1 the following:
to
amend Code Section 16-12-142 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to requiring medical facilities or physicians to perform abortions and requiring
others to assist, so as to provide that a pharmacist who states in writing an
objection to any abortion shall not be required to fill a prescription for a
drug if the purpose of the drug is to terminate a pregnancy; to provide that
such refusal shall not be the basis for any claim for damages; to provide for
the duration of the effectiveness of the written objection;
By
inserting between lines 10 and 11 of page 4 the following:
SECTION
2A.
Code
Section 16-12-142 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
requiring medical facilities or physicians to perform abortions and requiring
others to assist, is amended by striking such Code section and inserting in its
place the following:
"16-12-142.
(a)
Nothing in this article shall require a hospital or other medical facility or
physician to admit any patient under the provisions of this article for the
purpose of performing an abortion. In addition, any person who states in
writing an objection to any abortion or all abortions on moral or religious
grounds shall not be required to participate in procedures which will result in
such abortion; and the refusal of the person 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 the person. The written objection
shall remain in effect until the person revokes it or terminates his association
with the facility with which it is filed.
(b)
Any pharmacist who states in writing an objection to any abortion or all
abortions on moral or religious grounds shall not be required to fill a
prescription for a drug which purpose is to terminate a pregnancy; and the
refusal of the person to fill such prescription shall not form the basis of any
claim for damages on account of such refusal or for any disciplinary or
recriminatory action against the person; provided, however, that the pharmacist
shall make all reasonable efforts to locate another pharmacist who is willing to
fill such prescription or shall immediately return the prescription to the
prescription holder. The written objection shall remain in effect until the
person revokes it or terminates his or her association with the facility with
which it is
filed."