1524                                     LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 726

granting of consent therefor be a condition precedent to the receipt of any public
benefits.]

Section 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED BY THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That new Section 556 E be and hereby is added
to Article 43 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, (1972 Supplement), title
"Health", subtitle "Hospitals and Related Institutions," to follow immediately
after Section 556 D, and to read as follows:

556 E.

(A)        NO PERSON SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM OR
PARTICIPATE IN, OR REFER TO ANY SOURCE FOR, ANY
[[ELECTIVE]] MEDICAL PROCEDURE [[NOT REQUIRED IN ORDER
TO SAVE LIFE INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,]] THAT RESULTS
IN TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY, STERILIZATION[[,]] OR
ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION; AND THE REFUSAL OF ANY PERSON
TO PERFORM OR PARTICIPATE IN OR REFER TO A SOURCE FOR
SUCH MEDICAL PROCEDURE SHALL NOT BE A BASIS FOR CIVIL
LIABILITY TO ANY PERSON NOR A BASIS FOR ANY DISCIPLINARY
OR ANY OTHER RECRIMINATORY ACTION AGAINST HIM.

(B)    NO HOSPITAL, HOSPITAL DIRECTOR OR GOVERNING BOARD
SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PERMIT THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY
[[ELECTIVE]] MEDICAL PROCEDURE [[NOT REQUIRED IN ORDER
TO SAVE LIFE INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,]] THAT RESULTS
IN TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY, STERILIZATION [[, ]] OR
ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION, WITHIN ITS INSTITUTION; NOR
SHALL ANY HOSPITAL, HOSPITAL DIRECTOR OR GOVERNING
BOARD BE REQUIRED TO REFER ANY PERSON TO A SOURCE FOR
THE PERFORMANCE OF SUCH MEDICAL PROCEDURES; AND THE
REFUSAL TO PERMIT SUCH PROCEDURES OR TO REFER TO
SOURCES FOR SUCH PROCEDURES, SHALL NOT BE GROUNDS FOR
CIVIL LIABILITY TO ANY HOSPITAL, INSTITUTION OR PERSON NOR
A BASIS FOR ANY DISCIPLINARY OR OTHER RECRIMINATORY
ACTION AGAINST HIM OR IT BY THE STATE OR ANY PERSON.

(C) THE REFUSAL OF ANY PERSON TO SUBMIT TO AN ABORTION
OR STERILIZATION OR TO GIVE CONSENT THEREFOR SHALL NOT
BE GROUNDS FOR LOSS OF ANY PRIVILEGES OR IMMUNITIES TO
WHICH SUCH PERSON WOULD OTHERWISE BE ENTITLED NOR
SHALL SUBMITTING TO AN ABORTION OR STERILIZATION OR THE
GRANTING OF CONSENT THEREFOR BE A CONDITION PRECEDENT
TO THE RECEIPT OF ANY PUBLIC BENEFITS.

Section 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1973.

Approved May 24, 1973.