Conscientious Objection in Health Care: An Ethical Analysis

By Mark R. Wicclair

Book Overview

Historically associated with military service, conscientious objection has become a significant phenomenon in health care. Mark Wicclair offers a comprehensive ethical analysis of conscientious objection in three representative health care professions: medicine, nursing and pharmacy. He critically examines two extreme positions: the 'incompatibility thesis', that it is contrary to the professional obligations of practitioners to refuse provision of any service within the scope of their professional competence; and 'conscience absolutism', that they should be exempted from performing any action contrary to their conscience. He argues for a compromise approach that accommodates conscience-based refusals within the limits of specified ethical constraints. He also explores conscientious objection by students in each of the three professions, discusses conscience protection legislation and conscience-based refusals by pharmacies and hospitals, and analyzes several cases. His book is a valuable resource for scholars, professionals, trainees, students, and anyone interested in this increasingly important aspect of health care.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521735432
• ISBN13: 9780521735438
• Release Date: June 2011
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 268 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 8.8"