The Illinois House is voting to clarify that the Health Care Right of Conscience Act can’t be used to refuse Covid-19 vaccine mandates.
The House narrowly approved the bill, with supporters like representative Bob Morgan of Highwood hoping to slow the tide of lawsuits over workplace vaccine requirements.
“This law was enacted to protect healthcare professionals who do not want to perform abortions or provide contraception. But this law is being bastardized by a few rural courts, jeopardizing our efforts to protect the state of Illinois during an unprecedented, once in a century pandemic that is threatening our health and safety.”
But opponents, like representative Deanne Mazzochi of Elmhurst, say this is a violation of people’s rights.
“Government is supposed to persuade, not force. Government is supposed to respect and protect our civil liberties, not disregard them. And that is because we are citizens, not subjects.”
The act was originally meant to protect healthcare workers morally opposed to performing procedures like abortions.
The Senate still needs to vote on the clarification.
