Illinois Compiled Statutes
745 ILCS 70/2 (2026)
Findings and policy
✓ current as of May 2026
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(745 ILCS 70/2)
(from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 5302)
Sec. 2. Findings and policy. The General Assembly finds and declares that
people and organizations hold different beliefs about whether certain
health care services are morally acceptable. It is the public policy of the
State of Illinois to
respect
and protect the right of conscience of all persons who refuse to obtain,
receive or accept, or who are engaged in, the delivery of, arrangement for,
or payment of health care
services and medical care whether acting individually, corporately, or
in association with other persons; and to prohibit all forms of
discrimination, disqualification, coercion, disability or imposition of
liability upon such persons or entities by reason of their refusing to
act contrary to their conscience or conscientious convictions in
providing, paying for, or refusing to obtain, receive, accept, deliver, pay for, or
arrange
for the payment of health care services and
medical care. It is also the public policy of the State of Illinois to ensure that patients receive timely access to information and medically appropriate care.
(Source: P.A. 99-690, eff. 1-1-17.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10
cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1995–2025 · leading case: Graham v. Pekin Fire Dept., 2022 IL App (4th) 220270 (Ill. App. Ct. 2022).
Graham v. Pekin Fire Dept., 2022 IL App (4th) 220270 (Ill. App. Ct. 2022). “¶ 21 The trouble is, giving the word “discriminate” this ordinary, commonly accepted meaning of treating all persons equally would seem to conflict with the legislative intent expressed in section 2 of the Conscience Act (745 ILCS 70/2 (West 2020)). That section provides in part…”
Cohen v. Smith, 648 N.E.2d 329 (Ill. App. Ct. 1995). “Plaintiffs’ complaints against both Nurse Smith and the Hospital are stated in three counts: (1) battery, (2) intentional infliction of emotional distress, and (3) violation of the Right of Conscience Act (745 ILCS 70/2 (West 1992)). Attached to the complaint against Nurse Smith…”
Morr-Fitz, Inc. v. Blagojevich, 867 N.E.2d 1164 (Ill. App. Ct. 2007). “" 745 ILCS 70/2 (West 2004). "Conscience" has been defined as "a sincerely held set of moral convictions arising from belief in and relation to God, or which, though not so derived, arises from a place in the life of its possessor parallel to that filled by God among adherents…”
Rojas v. Martell, 2020 IL App (2d) 190215 (Ill. App. Ct. 2021). “) 745 ILCS 70/2 (West 2014). 1 ¶ 56 Thus, by prohibiting discrimination against one who exercises the right of personal conscience, the statute reflects an intent to protect that right in the provision of health care services.”
Morr-Fitz v. Quinn, 2012 IL App (4th) 110398 (Ill. App. Ct. 2012). “” 745 ILCS 70/2 (West 2010). ¶ 52 Consistent with this policy, the General Assembly, in the Conscience Act, determined “[n]o physician or health care personnel shall be civilly or criminally liable to any person, estate, public or private entity or public official by reason of…”
Doe 1 v. Northshore Univ. Healthsystem (N.D. Ill. 2021). “” 745 ILCS 70/2, 70/5, 70/7, 70/8. NorthShore counters that the Conscience Act is inapplicable to an employee vaccine requirement imposed by a health care provider.”
Boone v. Illinois Dep't of Corr. (IDOC) (C.D. Ill. 2022). “July 19, 2017) (citing 745 ILCS 70/2) (“The HCRCA was enacted in 1977 ‘to respect and protect the right of conscience of all persons who refuse to .”
Boone v. Illinois Dep't of Corr. (IDOC) (C.D. Ill. 2023). “July 19, 2017) (citing 745 ILCS 70/2). See Vandersand v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.”
Kopp v. Silver Cross Hosp. & Med. Ctr., 2025 IL App (3d) 240414 (Ill. App. Ct. 2025). “” 745 ILCS 70/2 (West 2020). ¶ 34 We recognize a few problems with plaintiffs’ argument.”
Morr-Fitz, Inc. v. Blagojevich (Ill. App. Ct. 2007). “" 745 ILCS 70/2 (West 2004). "Conscience" has been defined as "a sincerely held set of moral convictions arising from belief in and relation to God, or which, though not so derived, arises from a place in the life of its possessor parallel to that filled by God among adherents…”
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