Section 51.51. Supplementary interpretation regarding bona fide occupational qualification standards

(a) A public hospital or public health care facility and all other medical facilities which elect to provide abortion or sterilization services have the duty to employ and assign sufficient numbers of medical and other staff persons and provide the necessary equipment and facilities to offer the services on a medically-safe and professional basis. It is imperative that the institutions obtain the services of responsible physicians and other necessary personnel whose personal views on abortion do not prohibit them from providing or participating in abortions or sterilizations.

(b) When an institution is unable to provide sufficient numbers of physicians, nurses, staff members and other employes to provide abortion or sterilization services due to the objection of staff members, the institution shall request from the Commission a supplementary interpretation regarding bona fide occupational qualification standards for the position in question, to be operative during the period of time when the institution is attempting to employ sufficient numbers of staff people to provide the medical services.