Section 68-34-104 - Contraceptives - Availability - Information - Religious beliefIt is the policy and authority of this state that:
(1) All medically acceptable contraceptive procedures, supplies, and information shall be readily and practicably available to each and every person desirous of the same regardless of sex, race, age, income, number of children, marital status, citizenship or motive;(2) Contraceptive procedures, including medical procedures for permanent sterilization, when performed by a physician on a requesting and consenting patient, are consistent with public policy;(3) Nothing in this chapter shall inhibit a physician from refusing to furnish any contraceptive procedures, supplies or information where such refusal is for medical reasons;(4) Dissemination of medically acceptable contraceptive information by duly authorized persons 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 is consistent with public policy;(5) No private institution or physician, nor any agent or employee of such institution or physician, shall be prohibited from refusing to provide contraceptive procedures, supplies, and information when such refusal is based upon religious or conscientious objection, and no such institution, employee, agent, or physician shall be held liable for such refusal; and(6) To the extent that family planning funds are available, each public health agency of this state and each of its political subdivisions shall provide contraceptive procedures, supplies, and information, including voluntary sterilization procedures for male or female persons eligible for free medical service as determined by rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner. The same service shall be available to all others who are unable to obtain the service privately, at a cost to be determined by rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner.Acts 1971, ch. 400, § 1; T.C.A., § 53-4604.