People have the right to be able to trust that health care professionals will provide the best care possible, but the Legislature is currently considering a bill that would allow for our state’s health care professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy employees, to impose their private, religious beliefs on New Hampshire patients. HB 1080 is dangerously vague. The boundaries for moral or ethical objections are not defined in the bill. These broad implications could deny reproductive health services to patients, including birth control, sterilization and abortion. Imagine a doctor refusing to fill a prescription for birth control pills because of their religious beliefs or a local pharmacy clerk denying someone condoms because they object to using birth control.
The language of this bill makes it illegal for the pharmacy to fire or even transfer the pharmacy clerk or for the doctor to face consequences for refusing to write a prescription for birth control pills. HB 1080 allows denials of care without any liability and without any protections for patients. Patients across the state could be denied health care, complete and timely medical advice, and necessary prescriptions because of a provider’s religious beliefs. New Hampshire should be working to expand access to health care in the state, not adding barriers for patients. New Hampshire lawmakers should have the best interest, and best public health outcomes, in mind when crafting legislation. HB 1080 would only hurt Granite Staters, especially in rural communities. I urge the NH House to reject HB 1080!
Diane Siegart
Thornton