MEDICAL CONSCIENCE RIGHTS INITIATIVE


Protecting Religious Freedom in Healthcare

OVERVIEW

The Medical Conscience Rights Initiative (MCRI) is a joint effort launched in 2020 by the Religious Freedom Institute (RFI), Alliance Defending Freedom, and Christ Medicus Foundation to promote legislation on the state-level to protect America’s healthcare providers from mandates to perform voluntary procedures in violation of their conscience (e.g., abortion, physician assisted suicide, gender transition surgery, etc.).


MCRI involves a multi-level strategy, including:

  • Print and digital media campaigns
  • Education resources
  • Grassroots coalition building in select states
  • Direct professional and educational advocacy with state leaders
  • Hearing testimony provided by coalition partners

Medical conscience rights are rooted in:

  • Human Dignity
  • The purpose of medicine to administer life-affirming care
  • The medical practitioner's oath to Do No Harm
  • First Amendment protections of religious conscience and free exercise

A key aspect of MCRI is model legislation that can serve as the foundation for state legislators seeking to take action in this area. Five states — Arkansas, Ohio, South Carolina, Montana, and Florida — have enacted versions of this model legislation. Similar efforts are ongoing in multiple other states.

To learn more, contact RFI by phone: 202-838-7734 or email: crfe@rfi.org.







MEDICAL CONSCIENCE RIGHTS INITIATIVE IN CONTEXT