Healthcare (Women's Health)

HB 2585 would cap noneconomic damages at $1 million in medical malpractice lawsuits involving obstetric or maternity negligence that causes a pregnant or postpartum woman's death or permanent injury. It directly affects patients (or their families) who might file such lawsuits and healthcare providers facing these claims. The bill amends Tennessee law to limit compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional distress (noneconomic damages) to $1 million in these specific cases, while leaving economic damages (like medical bills) unaffected. This is a concrete policy change to restrict damage awards in a defined subset of medical liability cases.

SB 2621 caps noneconomic damages at $1 million in medical malpractice lawsuits involving obstetric or maternity negligence that causes the death or permanent injury of a pregnant or postpartum woman. It directly affects patients, families, and healthcare providers in Tennessee by limiting compensation for non-monetary harms like pain and suffering in these specific cases. The bill amends Tennessee law to override existing damage award rules for health care liability actions under Title 29, Chapter 26. This change applies only to cases meeting the defined criteria of negligence resulting in death or permanent injury during pregnancy or postpartum care. The legislation does not affect economic damages (such as medical bills) or other types of medical malpractice claims.

HB 551 urges Tennessee's Human Rights Commission to study whether healthcare providers face discrimination for declining services based on religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. The bill requires the Commission to include its findings and recommendations in annual reports to the legislature. It directly affects healthcare providers (such as doctors or nurses) who may refuse specific services like abortion or contraception due to personal beliefs. The bill does not change existing laws but mandates a formal study of potential discrimination against such providers.

HB 26, the "Unborn Child Protection Act of 2025," prohibits mailing or delivering abortion-inducing drugs into Tennessee. It defines these drugs as medications (like mifepristone and misoprostol) used to terminate a pregnancy, excluding them when used for other medical purposes (such as treating stomach ulcers). The bill imposes strict liability, requiring anyone who causes an unborn child's death through such mailings to pay $5 million in damages without needing to prove fault. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting drug manufacturers, distributors, and anyone mailing abortion-related medications into the state.

SB 194, the "Unborn Child Protection Act of 2025," bans the mailing or delivery of abortion-inducing drugs into Tennessee. It defines "abortion-inducing drugs" as medications intended to terminate a pregnancy (like mifepristone or misoprostol used for that purpose), excluding drugs like misoprostol prescribed for stomach ulcers. The bill creates strict civil liability, requiring anyone who mails/delivers such drugs into Tennessee and causes an unborn child's death to pay $5 million in damages. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting drug distributors, pharmacies, and medical providers handling these medications.

HB 1241 defines two medical scenarios where a physician performing an abortion is not considered to commit criminal abortion: (1) when preventing maternal death or a "serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" (e.g., preeclampsia, but excluding mental health conditions), and (2) when addressing a "lethal fetal anomaly" (a condition diagnosed before 24 weeks that is incompatible with life outside the womb). For lethal fetal anomalies, the bill requires two physician concurrences in writing, documentation of perinatal care options offered to the patient, and specifies that abortions or premature deliveries must be performed to avoid fetal demise or maternal health risks. The law applies to licensed physicians in licensed facilities and amends multiple Tennessee Code sections related to women’s health.