BOISE -- A health care bill that's passed the Idaho House and Senate is getting a lot of attention.
It's been dubbed the "Conscience Bill," and it allows those in health care to deny services based on their conscience.
The bill gives pharmacists and nurses the right not to follow through with a doctor's order based on their personal beliefs.
Some say it's good that this bill doesn't force anyone to do something contrary to their conscience.
Others say it undermines a doctor's ability to treat their patients.
In a sweeping majority, the Idaho House passed Senate Bill 1353 on a vote of 51-18.
Rep. Tom Loertscher sponsored the bill in the House. He argues that everyone is endowed or born with a conscience, the ability for them to choose between right and wrong.
"What it does, is provide for the protection of the conscience rights of individuals who provide medical care, whatever arena they are in, whether it's pharmacy, hospital, physicians. If they are asked to perform something that runs against their conscience, they would not be required to do that," said Loertscher.
But Dr. Kara Cadwallader says the bill is not backed by the majority of those in health care professions.
"It completely undermines the doctor, patient relationship, because what that is based on is trust, and the idea that the physician will help the patient access the care that is best for them, and so anything that puts a barrier between that, puts a barrier for the patient accessing that, undermines the doctor, patient relationship," saod Cadwallader.
When this bill hits Gov. Butch Otter's desk, he will have five days to either sign it or not sign it, either way it will go into law.
The only thing that stands in the way of this becoming law will be a veto from the governor.
There doesn't appear to be any organized appeal to the governor on behalf of health care professionals to stop this bill from becoming law.
