Tennessee Senate Votes To Let Therapists Avoid Clients Over Religious Objections

The Tennessee Senate has voted to let mental-health and marriage counselors turn away patients on religious grounds.

The decision came Wednesday morning, despite strong opposition from groups representing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.

The proposal comes in response to a
2014 revision to the American Counseling Association’s code of ethics.

The organization declared that counselors could not deny treatment to anyone based on religious objections. That includes gays and lesbians.

State Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, says the change upset some counselors. He says when their religious beliefs conflict with clients, counselors ought to be able to refer them to someone else.

“We’re doing nothing to prohibit or restrict the ability to get counseling from someone who is trained and willing to provide that counseling,” he said. “And that should be our ultimate goal.”

Although LGBT groups led opposition to the proposal, 
Senate Bill 1556 could be construed to mean any religious objection. Supporters and opponents alike mentioned the possibility that people could be turned away because of their faith, or because they had decided to have an abortion.

Foes say it will make it harder for some people to get help, especially in rural areas where there are few counselors to begin with.

The
Tennessee Counseling Association also opposes the measure. Some critics say trumping a professional code of conduct creates a dangerous precedent.

State Sen. Steve Dickerson, a Nashville Republican and a physician, recalls advice given to him by a medical school dean when he was going through training in the 1980s. At the time, many of his classmates feared they could be infected by treating patients with HIV.

“He said ‘anybody in this room that’s not willing to treat every patient — without regard to your own personal safety or your own personal beliefs — there’s the door.’ He said, ‘leave right now.'”

Dickerson was one of five senators to vote against the measure.

The proposal is also making its way through the House.