A house RESOLUTION

 

TO DECLARE THAT THE STATE CANNOT MANDATE OR COERCE AN INDIVIDUAL TO RECEIVE OR PENALIZE OR DISCRIMINATE AGAINST AN INDIVIDUAL FOR REFUSING A MEDICAL INTERVENTION, PRODUCT, PROCEDURE, OR GENETIC MODIFICATION.

 

Whereas, a fundamental principle of informed consent and bodily autonomy is the uncoerced right to accept or refuse a medical intervention, product, procedure, or genetic modification; and

 

Whereas, after being fully informed, the patient or his advocate must make a voluntary choice to accept or refuse a medical intervention, product, procedure, or genetic modification; and

 

Whereas, when a patient or his advocate refuses a medical intervention, product, procedure, or genetic modification, mandating over that objection and discriminating based on that objection is unethical, unjust, and the entire reason for the universal principle of informed consent. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, declare the State can not mandate or coerce an individual to receive or penalize or discriminate against an individual for refusing a medical intervention, product, procedure, or genetic modification.

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