Conscientious Objection in Health Care: An Ethical Analysis (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780521735438)

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.

Author: Mark R. Wicclair
ISBN-10: 0521735432
ISBN-13: 9780521735438
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 05/26/2011
Pages: 268
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 8.80h x 6.00w x 0.50d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 01/01/2012