(Correspondence) Religion, Conscience and Controversial Clinical Practices

Lainie F Ross, Ellen W Clayton

New England Journal of Medicine, NEJM
New England Journal of Medicine

Extract
To impose the philosophy of caveat emptor is morally inadequate, given the differences in power and class between many physicians and their patients. Physicians must not be permitted to disavow responsibility on the grounds of conscientious objection; rather, such practitioners must choose careers in which their fundamental values do not interfere with the autonomy and well-being of patients. Like conscientious objectors to military service, medical conscientious objectors must bear the consequences of their beliefs.


Clayton EW. (Correspondence) Religion, Conscience and Controversial Clinical Practices. N Engl J Med. 2007 May 03;356(18):1890.