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An obligation to provide abortion services: what happens when physicians refuse?
1Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, California State University, Bakersfield, USA.
Journal of Medical Ethics
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Physician willingness to provide abortion services is declining due to conscientious objection laws. This paper argues physicians should perform abortions unless it violates core moral beliefs.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Access to abortion services in the U.S. is decreasing.
- This decline is primarily driven by physician reluctance and "conscientious objection" laws, rather than legislative changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To argue that physicians have a professional obligation to provide socially sanctioned medical services, including abortions.
- To assert that the burden of proof should be on physicians seeking exemption from performing abortions.
Main Methods:
- Ethical analysis of physician obligations in providing healthcare services.
- Examination of existing "conscientious objection" legislation, using California law as a case study.
Main Results:
- Current "conscientious objection" laws in states like California are too permissive, allowing easy refusal of abortion services.
- Physicians can opt out of performing abortions without demonstrating a significant threat to fundamental moral or religious beliefs.
Conclusions:
- Physicians should be required to justify their refusal to perform abortions based on substantial moral or religious grounds.
- Legislation needs re-evaluation to balance physician objections with patient access to essential healthcare services.