§ 20-16-304 - Public policy -- Availability of procedures, supplies, and information -- Exceptions. - Arkansas Statutes

20-16-304. Public policy -- Availability of procedures, supplies, and information -- Exceptions.

It shall be the policy and authority of this state that:

(1) All medically acceptable contraceptive procedures, supplies, and information shall be available through legally recognized channels to each person desirous of the procedures, supplies, and information regardless of sex, race, age, income, number of children, marital status, citizenship, or motive;

(2) Medical procedures for permanent sterilization, when performed by a physician on a requesting and consenting person eighteen (18) years of age or older, or less than eighteen (18) years of age if legally married, be consistent with public policy;

(3) Dissemination of medically acceptable contraceptive information in this state and in state and county health and welfare departments, in medical facilities, at institutions of higher learning, and at other agencies and instrumentalities of this state be consistent with public policy;

(4) Nothing in this subchapter shall prohibit a physician, pharmacist, or any other authorized paramedical personnel from refusing to furnish any contraceptive procedures, supplies, or information; and

(5) No private institution or physician, nor any agent or employee of the institution or physician, nor any employee of a public institution acting under directions of a physician, shall be prohibited from refusing to provide contraceptive procedures, supplies, and information when the refusal is based upon religious or conscientious objection. No such institution, employee, agent, or physician shall be held liable for the refusal.