Refusal to Provide Medical Services
ABORTION REFUSAL CLAUSE
Tennessee allows certain individuals or entities to refuse to provide abortion services.
To whom does the refusal clause apply? Physicians and hospitals.
What does the refusal clause allow? No physician may be required to perform an abortion and no person may be required to participate in the performance of an abortion. No hospital may be required to permit the performance of abortion or accept a patient for an abortion.
Does the law require the refusing entity to notify the persons affected? No.
Are there circumstances under which a refusal clause may not be exercised? No.
Does the law require the refusing individual or entity to provide medically and factually accurate information or provide a referral for abortion services? No.
Does the law provide a mechanism for women to otherwise obtain specific reproductive health services, information, or referrals if an individual and/or entity exercises a refusal clause? No.
Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-15-204, -205 (Enacted 1989).
CONTRACEPTION REFUSAL CLAUSE
Tennessee allows certain individuals or entities to refuse to provide contraceptive procedures, supplies, or information.
To whom does the refusal clause apply? Private institutions, physicians, and agents or employees of private institutions or physicians.
What does the refusal clause allow? No private institution or physician, nor any agent or employee of a private institution or physician that objects on the basis of religion or conscience may be required to provide contraceptive procedures, supplies, or information. The refusal to provide contraceptive procedures, supplies, or information shall not be the basis for liability.
Does the law require the refusing entity to notify the persons affected? No.
Are there circumstances under which a refusal clause may not be exercised? No.
Does the law require the refusing individual or entity to provide medically and factually accurate information or provide a referral for contraceptive procedures, supplies, or information? No.
Does the law provide a mechanism for women to otherwise obtain specific reproductive health services, information, or referrals if an individual and/or entity exercises a refusal clause? No.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-34-104(5) (Enacted 1971).
