With abortion laws shifting with prevailing political winds, some states are moving to provide more protections for providers. Connecticut is one of the early adopters of policies shielding medical professionals working for religiously affiliated hospitals or other healthcare centers from disciplinary action from licensing boards. If your state threatens your credentials for services you provide, call the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team at 888-535-3686 now or visit us online. 

Connecticut Expands ‘Safe Harbor' Laws 

A bill under consideration by the Connecticut state legislature's Public Health Committee is set to protect providers at religious-affiliated healthcare facilities from suspension, license revocation, and other penalties. The measure, which builds on the state's “safe harbor” status, is centered around those that offer counseling about: 

• Abortion 
• Contraception 
• Gender-affirming care 
• Reproductive care 
• Treatment referrals 

Previously, Connecticut lawmakers passed legislation protecting individuals seeking reproductive care and procedures from states banning such practices. They also passed laws protecting clinicians and expanded the types of licensed providers permitted to perform first-trimester abortions to include: 

• Advanced practice registered nurses 
• Nurse midwives 
• Physician assistants 

This legislative effort is significant, particularly for providers in religiously affiliated centers, where such services could potentially conflict with institutional policies. Under the measure, those providers won't face discipline based solely on their out-of-state sanctions. 

Providers In Other States Still Face Trouble at Home 

As Connecticut moves forward with an expansion of protections, licensed medical professionals in many other states can still face trouble stemming from the policies of their institutions. Considering there is variation across the states in reproductive health laws and regulations means that even if providing a service or a referral was legal in Connecticut, it might not be legal elsewhere. Therefore, licensees providing such services or referring individuals for care would be vulnerable to discipline, including suspension or revocation. 

Practitioners must abide by the rules and regulations of their state's medical board. Despite states minting safe harbor laws, it can still result in investigations for offering a service or referral that their license prohibits. Moreover, if the counseling or referrals given by providers—especially from religiously affiliated facilities—cause harm to patients, providers can find themselves subject to malpractice. Unfortunately, licensed medical professionals at any hospital, facility, or health care center must straddle professional responsibility with legal constraints. 

How Can You Fight License Discipline? 

Until states pass more protections for medical providers, licensees risk losing their credentials. Exercising professional judgment is just one prudent practice to mitigate threats to your career and livelihood. However, when you find yourself in trouble for offering comprehensive reproductive healthcare, you need to know where to turn for help. 

The Lento Law Firm is a nationwide Team of License Defense Professionals dedicated to ensuring you keep the license you worked so hard to get. State-level rules and regulations vary significantly across the country. Just because you carry out a procedure or give counsel to patients in a state where it is allowed, that doesn't mean you should suffer the consequences in your home state. To get started on your defense strategy, call the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team now at 888-535-3686 or visit us online.