TENN: Religious Counseling bill passes House Health Committee

[rug]

By SAMANTHA HEARN
Published: March 25, 2016

The House of Representatives will soon vote on a much-debated bill to allow counselors to opt out of treating clients because of their religious beliefs after it was approved on Wednesday by the House Health Committee.

HB 1840 was taken off notice, or essentially put on hold, after an amendment was requested to change some of its language at last month's House Health Subcommittee meeting.

The Senate passed the bill, sponsored by Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), that opponents say will enable discrimination in counseling in the state, and proponents say will protect the religious liberties of counselors and therapists.

The bill says that counselors and therapists would be immune from liability if they refuse a client based on behaviors that conflict with a religious belief of the counselor or therapist. It also says that counselors or therapists refusing to provide counseling or therapy must coordinate a referral of the client to another counselor or therapist who will provide service.

http://www.brentwoodhomepage.com/religious-counseling-bill-passes-house-health-committee-cms-25839#.VvZ1beIrKM8

[Hoppy]

1. On that proposed law, I probably agree.

For instance, requiring a fundy to counsel a gay person, might result in conversion therapy or similar nonsense.

[rug]

2. The problem is there may be no other therapists nearby.

But from the patient's view, how much benefit is there from seeing a judgmental asshole?

[Hoppy]

5. Exactly: a horse's ass can do more harm than no therapy.

[procon]

3. Maybe these professionals who put their own personal religious convictions first,

should only get a restricted license with matching limitations on what they can do. Designate whatever exclusions they choose, separating them from those who can provide a full scope of services without prejudices based on their training and education.

The medical profession already has different categories for many professions, like nurses have LVNs and RNs, there are many different physician specialties. I would be no different to do that with counselors and pharmacists who demand special carve outs to accommodate their various doctrines, bigotries and biases. Their fees would be less, of course, and their employment opportunities might be limited, but they should be happy to only get the kinds of people they deem suitable.

[rug]

4. That is a very clever idea.

They all need certifications and licensing for advanced specialties. This idea works perfectly in the opposite direction.