“Health care workers have a right and duty to act professionally and in accordance with their conscience. Conscientious practice is integral to healthcare: all health care professionals should be seeking the best for their patients and respecting their dignity and wellbeing.
Many health care professionals in the UK have exercised their legal and/or moral right to conscientious objection while maintaining good relations both with patients and colleagues. Problems can, however, arise for conscientious objectors – though legal and ethical advice early in the process can sometimes pre-empt these.
Some principles enunciated in the toolkit, with appropriate resources provided to help healthcare professionals, are: be considerate with patients/colleagues; seek advice from a trusted colleague/other advisor as needed; and avoid ‘formal’ cooperation in something you believe is wrong.
Conscientious objection is an increasingly complex area as large parts of society increasingly do not question their own assumptions about the ethics of particular actions even where these can reasonably be challenged. In addition, there is now a wider variety of moral and religious perspectives that can prompt conscientious objection, often grounded in a sincere concern for the rights of the patient and others involved. The Bios toolkit can be a helpful resource in this difficult environment.”
