Conscientious Objection in Medicine

The Element examines ethical and conceptual issues about conscientious objection in medicine. Concepts analyzed include conscientious objection, conscientious provision, conscience, moral complicity, and moral integrity. Several ongoing ethical controversies are identified and critically analyzed. The Element argues that incompatibilists fail to offer a justifiable specification of professional obligations that supports their position. Among compatibilists there is disagreement about conditions that objectors should satisfy to receive accommodation. The Element also argues that a challenge for compatibilists who support it is to specify justifiable, clear, and unambiguous criteria for reviewing objectors' reasons. Another subject of controversy is about the justifiability of asymmetry between responses to conscientious objectors and conscientious providers. Typically, only the former receive accommodation. The Element critically examines arguments for asymmetry and maintains that none provide a convincing justification.