{"id":12902,"date":"2008-07-30T15:41:00","date_gmt":"2008-07-30T22:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/library.consciencelaws.org\/?p=12902"},"modified":"2023-02-04T15:44:53","modified_gmt":"2023-02-04T23:44:53","slug":"the-ethics-of-direct-and-indirect-referral-for-termination-of-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/library.consciencelaws.org\/?p=12902","title":{"rendered":"The ethics of direct and indirect referral for termination of pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Frank A Chervenak, Laurence B McCullough<\/h4>\n\n\n
\n
\"American
American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Abstract
Referral of pregnant patients for termination of pregnancy by physicians morally opposed to the procedure is ethically controversial, with polarized positions taken by physician organizations. Based on the ethical principles of beneficence and respect for autonomy, we establish the distinction between direct and indirect referral. Direct referral is beneficence based and requires the referring physician to ensure that the referral occurs. Indirect referral is autonomy based, with a beneficence-based component that requires that the physician provide information to the patient about health care organizations that will provide competent medical care. We show that only indirect referral is ethically required in healthy women for termination of an unwanted pregnancy or a pregnancy complicated by fetal anomalies because the indications for this procedure are solely autonomy based. Direct referral for termination of pregnancy is not ethically required but is permissible. Conscience-based objections to direct referral for termination of pregnancy have merit; conscience-based objections to indirect referral do not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Chervenak FA, McCullough LB. The ethics of direct and indirect referral for termination of pregnancy<\/a>. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Jul 30;199(3):232.e1-232.e3. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Frank A Chervenak, Laurence B McCullough AbstractReferral of pregnant patients for termination of pregnancy by physicians morally opposed to the procedure is ethically controversial, with polarized positions taken by physician organizations. Based on the ethical principles of beneficence and respect for autonomy, we establish the distinction between direct and indirect referral. Direct referral is beneficence … Continue reading “The ethics of direct and indirect referral for termination of pregnancy”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,554,2,1646],"tags":[1804,1806],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-12902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-abortion","category-ethics","category-journal-article","category-referral","tag-frank-a-chervenak","tag-laurence-b-mccullough"],"yoast_head":"\r\nThe ethics of direct and indirect referral for termination of pregnancy - Protection of Conscience Project Library<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Conscience-based objections to direct referral for abortion have merit; conscience-based objections to indirect referral do not.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/library.consciencelaws.org\/?p=12902\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The ethics of direct and indirect referral for termination of pregnancy - Protection of Conscience Project Library\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Conscience-based objections to direct referral for abortion have merit; 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