AUSTIN – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), along with Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and a group of their Senate GOP colleagues, introduced the Conscience Protections for Medical Residents Act, which would ensure medical students and residents are never pressured or coerced into abortion training that violates their moral or religious beliefs and establishes clear federal protections so residents are not forced to choose between their conscience and their careers:

“The first rule of medicine is to do no harm, yet for many aspiring doctors, coerced abortion training not only contradicts that oath but also violates their moral and religious beliefs,” said Sen. Cornyn. “By allowing medical residents to opt-in rather than opt-out of abortion training, this legislation would protect health care professionals’ convictions and give them the freedom to practice medicine without fear of retaliation.”

The Conscience Protections for Medical Residents Act, led by Senator James Lankford (R-OK), was cosponsored by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Jim Banks (R-IN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Katie Britt (R-AL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Todd Young (R-IN). 

Background:

Under current rules from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, residents are allowed to opt out of abortion training, but the opt-out system puts pressure on trainees to participate in procedures that violate their moral or religious beliefs. Residents often fear that opting out could affect evaluations, recommendations, or future career opportunities.

The Conscience Protections for Medical Residents Act replaces the opt-out system with an opt-in system. It ensures residents can choose whether to participate in abortion training and protects them from discrimination or retaliation if they decline.

This legislation is endorsed by AAPLOG Action, SBA, ADF, AUL, NRLC, CURE, CatholicVote, Vitae Foundation, Human Coalition, March for Life Action, Heartbeat International, SFLA Action, CWALAC, ERLC, Live Action, Heritage Action, FPA, Liberty Counsel, FRC, and Liberty Counsel Action.