MT governor signs bills protecting life, conscience rights

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Denise Burke regarding Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte’s signing Wednesday of the Infant Care and Safety Act, a bill that protects life by providing legal protections to and ensuring appropriate medical care for children who survive abortions:

“Every human life is valuable, and every baby deserves to be protected. By enacting this critical legislation, Montana has affirmed the basic human rights of vulnerable children, whether born or unborn. The Infant Care and Safety Act provides legal protection for babies who survive abortions, ending the inhumane practice where these children can be left to die without even minimal effort being made to save them. The bill is an important step in advancing human rights and protecting vulnerable babies in Montana. We’re grateful to Gov. Gianforte, Speaker Matt Reiger, the primary sponsor Representative Kerri Seekins-Crowe, and the Montana Legislature for standing for life by enacting this legislation. While other states like California and New York are pushing extreme abortion laws that allow abortion on demand up to birth for any reason, Montana is working to protect vulnerable babies.”

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Stephanie Nichols regarding Gianforte’s signing Wednesday of the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act (MED Act), a bill that protects doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals and organizations from being forced to participate in health care services that violate their conscience:

“Americans should not be forced to violate their ethical and religious beliefs, and this certainly includes doctors, nurses, and other medical providers. The MED Act ensures that medical professionals aren’t compelled to breach their oath to ‘do no harm’ by being required to participate in procedures or treatments that violate their conscience. Driving out doctors, nurses, and other medical providers from their professions because of their faith commitments means fewer health care options for patients at a time when our nation’s health care system is overstretched and experiencing a dire shortage of providers. In light of the Biden administration’s ongoing attacks on medical conscience rights at the federal level, we commend Gov. Gianforte and the Montana Legislature for providing more choices for patients in Montana by protecting the right of medical professionals in the state to live in accordance with their ethical and religious beliefs as they offer their much-needed services.”

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

# # #